Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/7880185.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Major_Character_Death, Rape/Non-Con,
      Underage
  Category:
      F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M, Multi
  Fandom:
      Harry_Potter_-_J._K._Rowling, Harry_Potter_-_Fandom
  Character:
      Harry_Potter, Draco_Black, Hermione_Granger, Original_Male_Character(s),
      Original_Female_Character(s), Severus_Snape, Albus_Dumbledore, Ron
      Weasley, Katie_Bell, Luna_Lovegood, Blaise_Zabini, Pansy_Parkinson
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_Dark, Elemental_Magic, Firebending_&_Firebenders,
      Waterbending_&_Waterbenders, Earthbending_&_Earthbenders, Airbending_&
      Airbenders, Dark_Comedy, Comedy, Angst_and_Tragedy, Tragedy,
      Psychological_Torture, Implied/Referenced_Torture, Magic, Fae_&_Fairies,
      Magical_Creatures, Slytherin_Harry, Gryffindor_Draco, God-Blooded,
      Alternate_Universe_-_Gods_&_Goddesses, Het_and_Slash
  Series:
      Part 2 of Elemental_Gods
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-08-27 Updated: 2016-12-24 Chapters: 3/? Words: 16374
****** Draco Black And The Dark Heir ******
by NoapologiesNoexcusesNoregrets
Summary
     Three people brought together by fate, destiny and death.
     Against all odds, they are a family. A united force that will rock
     the world to an impossible edge.
     Harry Potter, dangerous and mighty.
     Draco Black, courageous and passionate.
     Hermione Granger, valiant and deadly.
     Will they survive their second year at Hogwarts and solve the
     mysteries hidden both within and outside it?
Notes
     Hello my favourite humans! I am back with the second story in the
     Elementals and Gods universe.
     First of all I should say that this story is technically the second
     part in a seven part series, so it would probably be best if you read
     the first story 'Harry Potter and the Elemental Magik' (spelt with a
     'k' on purpose for a reason, I promise.). If you don't read the first
     story then this one might confuse you a bit. Unless you enjoy being
     confused, then by all means skip the first one if you like.
     Some warnings for this story and the series as a whole:
     -Language. Bad. But not unless it's warranted for the situation.
     -Violence and gore. Action scenes and scenes of torture, abuse and
     rape. (I will warn more specifically later on about those.)-Sexual
     situations. Het and Slash pairings.
     -Some characters are different to the originals. For good reason
     though.
     -Probably some other stuff too, but we'll see. I will try to warn you
     lot of anything you might not like.
     This story will be dark at times. But there's also some humour thrown
     in, so it should be a good balance (hopefully). The series itself
     will get darker as it goes on.
     The magik in this universe is quite different to the magic in the
     original series. There are also different species, some Elementals
     who wield the power of the elements, and others who descend from Gods
     with other abilities.
     Harry, Draco and Hermione are equal main characters in this series.
     They each get their own storyline, but those plots sometimes merge
     together as well. When Harry, Draco or Hermione are the main focus,
     then the story will be told in first person, but when anyone else is
     the focus then the story will shift into third person.
     This first chapter is a prologue of sorts, and is therefore quite
     short. Most of my chapters are very long normally.
     I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. JK ROWLING DOES
     THOUGH! The only things I own are the OC's.
***** Dalia St. Clair *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
                                Dancing bears,
                                Painted wings,
                           Things I almost remember,
                           And a song someone sings,
                             Once upon a December.
                        Someone holds me safe and warm,
                     Horses prance through a silver storm,
                  Figures dancing gracefully across my memory
                                   Far away,
                                   Long ago,
                           Glowing dim as an ember,
                         Things my heart used to know,
                         Things it yearns to remember
                           And a song someone sings
                             Once upon a December
===============================================================================
Dalia St. Clair
No one ever told Dalia St. Clair that she was particularly special.
Her whole life, Dalia understood what it meant to be strong. To take care of
herself. Her parents died when she was very young, and so she never had the
chance to be part of a family. She went into care and didn't come out until the
law released her from its cold and indifferent grip.
Dalia had gotten used to being alone. Life was hard for her, and she could not
deny that those hardships she had faced are what made her strong enough to
survive an unfairly cruel world.
But it is also true that Dalia St. Clair never knew true strength, until she
found love. A real and tangible love that attached itself to the very essence
of her soul and wound that love through her entire being.
She found that love on a cold night in December on Christmas day. Dalia found a
boy. An undeniably special boy with strange emerald eyes that shone with
something important. Something extraordinary.
It was then that she knew. She knew that her life had been preparing her for
this. For Harry. A little boy with a scar on his forehead and no really family
to call his own.
Dalia felt it deep inside, for the very first time. She felt that her life
finally held meaning. Of course, she had never been one to think that having a
child is all that could give a woman purpose. In fact, before Harry, she had
never desired a child of her own. She had been content to take care of and
support the children who resided in Hallows House.
But Harry changed everything. He showed her a new way to live and to love and
to hope. He brought out a fierceness in her that she didn't know she'd
possessed. To Dalia, Harry became the most important thing in her world.
Dalia had thought she finally understood what it felt like to have a family of
her own. Harry proved her very wrong on that count. He showed her that they
could not be whole without another mysterious boy with strange eyes.
Harry brought her a second son. Dalia doesn't know how, or why, but she does
know that Draco would not have found his way to them if it hadn't of been for
Harry. Harry found Draco. Or perhaps they found each other.
For even lost souls can find their way to safety in the dark if the stars of
fate reveal their course.
Draco came to be Dalia's light. Her moral compass. He was very different from
Harry. And yet they fit so perfectly together. Draco and Harry became each
other's cornerstone the moment they met. By a tree in Dalia's garden. The
little lord and his baby Dragon.
From the very beginning, Harry and Draco tied Dalia to another kind of love.
Adam Brooks.
Dalia can admit to herself that if it hadn't of been for their connection
through Harry and Draco, then maybe Dalia would have never allowed herself to
love Adam. Dalia's chosen sons gave her the chance to trust someone in a way
she'd never been able to before.
Adam, a man so strong and so kind and so maddeningly patient, proved himself
over and over again. He showed Dalia, in a million tiny ways each and every
day, that he would always be there for the boys. For her.
For the first time in her life Dalia had someone she could depend on. It was
both incredible and frightening at the same time. To have children she could
love and a friend who would always want to fight with her instead offor her, as
others had tried before.
Dalia realised that she had been longing for these things. So, finally, she
allowed herself to need. And it felt wonderful. Better than any book or film or
song could ever describe.
Then came Hermione. Hermione Granger.
A girl. A girl who had lost her parents. A girl who reminded Dalia so much of
herself. She saw strength inside that little girl. It was a strength few people
are born with. Most have to earn that kind of strength. Dalia did. Adam did.
Harry and Draco did, in their own way.
But this girl. This special little girl who had just lost everything looked
Dalia right in eye and Dalia understood. She knew that this girl was a natural
born fighter.
Dalia believes, after having experienced her own pain and surrounded herself
with the pain of others, that there are three types of people in the world.
Everyone is unique. Everyone has their own story to tell and their own lives to
live. But at their very core, there are only three.
There are the acceptors. The people who can see a storm coming their way and
decide that it is better to surrender. To accept the inevitability of their
fate.
There are the survivors. The people who decide to weather the storm and take a
chance on themselves. They hold on with all their strength and keep moving
forward even when all hope seems to be lost.
There are the fighters. The people who refuse to accept or simply bear the
storm. They make the choice to fight back. These people would rather fail than
allow themselves to be controlled.
These three choices are not examples of how people choose to die, but instead
they are examples of how people choose to live.
To accept. Tosurvive. To fight.
The universe will only ever ask you one question:
Who are you?
It will ask you the same question every single day of your life.
It is our responsibility to never stop answering.
Hermione Granger is a fighter. Dalia saw that, and she knew. She knew that she
had been waiting for Hermione as well.
Hermione would complete their family. They needed her. She needed them.
Now, of course, there is Tyson.
Tyson Adam Brooks.
Dalia's first child of blood.
She had been worried that she would feel differently about him. He was not
chosen by fate nor by Dalia herself. But he would be Dalia's son. Adam's son.
And she would love him.
Of course, she'd failed to realise that Tyson Adam Brooks would not just be her
son and Adam's son. He would also be the younger brother of Harry Potter, Draco
Black and Hermione Granger.
Cunning. Kindess. Strength.
And now Tyson.
Their Tyson.
Dalia was reminded that first summer of how much her chosen children belong to
each other. She was reminded of their bond with brutal force when they chose to
accept her son of blood into their promise. A promise of unity. Loyalty. Trust.
Of unconditional and absolute love.
No matter how much Dalia and Adam loved their chosen children, and how much
those children loved them in return, Dalia knew that they would always love
each other more. So Dalia also knew, that Tyson belonged to them in a way he
would never belong to anyone else, not even Dalia and Adam.
Fate, Dalia decided, is a very strange and extraordinary thing.
===============================================================================
"Do not be afraid; our fate
Cannot be taken from us; it is a gift."
― Dante Alighieri, Inferno
Chapter End Notes
     A/N-Song 'Once Upon a December' by Liz Callaway. I think this song
     actually suits both Harry and Draco's backstory quite well.
     I hope you all enjoyed this first mini chapter, please review and let
     me know what you think so far! xxx
     Thank you so much to everyone for reading! x
***** And So It Begins *****
Chapter Notes
     I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM! JK ROWLING DOES
     THOUGH!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Harry's P.O.V
Dancing. They're dancing.
"What are theydoing?" Hermione asks, her nose crinkles up in genuine confusion.
Or possibly distaste.
"I think it's some kind of old married couple mating ritual." Draco says
knowingly.
Hermione scowls at him,
"Mating ritual? What are you going on about now?"
Draco grins back at her and starts babbling happily about nonsense.
"I've been reading about mating rituals for Dragons and sometimes they do this
thing where-"
Hermione cuts Draco off quite successfully,
"Mating rituals for Dragons? Dalia and Adam aren't Dragons, Drake."
Draco pulls a face at her and snaps,
"I know they aren't Dragons, I'm not an idiot!"
Hermione snorts, crossing her arms over her chest and looking bored, she says,
"Well, half of that statement is true anyway."
I shake my head at my arguing siblings and look down at my newer sibling.
Tyson. My baby brother. I'm holding him carefully in my arms.
Tyson's eyes are wide open and still the same cerulean blue as Dalia's. He's
staring up at me with an expression on his face that I've been trying to
interpret for the entire summer holiday. I like to think it's a considering
look. Like maybe Tyson is still trying to decide if we are all worthy of his
attentions or not.
Dalia and Adam are dancing around the kitchen to an old country song that is
currently booming out of the radio at full volume. They're both smiling and
laughing, and they look so happy that I feel something close to warmth spread
through my chest.
We've had a good summer, one of our best I'd say. There's been practically zero
drama, despite my Hydrogenic practice, Draco's Dragon and Hermione's built up
ragey frustration.
Although I can tell Hermione is chomping at the bit to get back to school.
She's finding it hard to train under the watchful eye of Dalia. Of course she
finally had to explain what was going on when Dalia caught Hermione
accidentally yanking a door off its hinges.
As predicted, Dalia did not take it well. Hermione couldn't tell Dalia anything
specific obviously, because as she was told by Eos, Dalia's memory would just
be taken by the Gods anyway. But Hermione did try to explain the situation
vaguely and in broad terms.
Dalia did not appreciate the attempt to explain something that doesn't make
much sense even when you know all the details. Having only an ambiguous
explanation only makes the whole thing seem much more insane.
Draco and I tried to help of course by explaining how things work at Hogwarts,
and why it's important that Hermione continue her training. Draco struggled
more with that one, because he still doesn't completely support Hermione's
Zanikai training. He still thinks it imposes upon Hermione's free will.
Unfortunately there are times when I agree with Draco about Hermione's
situation with the Gods. But then I also see how much satisfaction Hermione
appears to get from her training and I wonder if maybe she would choose this
course anyway. Draco argues with that whether Hermione likes it or not isn't
the point.
I suppose he's right about that. But I know Hermione. She is far from a weak-
willed little girl. Hermione can make her own decisions, and I trust her enough
to let her make up her own mind about what she wants and needs from her life.
If Hermione didn't want to be a Zanikai then she would have already asked me
for assistance in helping her escape that particular fate. But since she hasn't
done any such thing, I'm inclined to trust that she knows her own mind enough
to choose her own path in this life.
Whilst my family are suitably distracted, I take Tyson outside and down to the
beach. We've come to a small seaside town called 'Colbie'. Adam and Dalia
rented a cottage near the beach for the last few weeks of the summer holidays
before we go back to school.
I'm sure Dalia would love nothing more than to keep us all home this year. So
that we could be safe. But even Dalia knows how impossible that would be at
this point. I understand her need to protect us though. I see it in her eyes
every time she looks at any of us. There's a fierce protectiveness there that
tells all the world that she would do anything to protect her children. Her
family.
Our family.
I understand it because I share her concerns. Of course I'm not a parent so the
feelings are not exactly the same, but I do wish there was a way to keep my
siblings safe. If I thought it wouldn't drive me insane to have him so far
away, I would insist on Draco staying behind. Although the likelihood of him
ever agreeing to such a thing is ludicrously small.
I remember what it felt like to almost lose Draco. That night in the forest
when the mirror of Erised dragged him inside and tried to strip his soul from
his body. I can still see it in my head with startling clarity. The fear I felt
in that moment when I thought I'd lost him forever is unlike anything I've ever
experienced. Something in me died. A level of innocence I didn't know I still
possessed was shattered.
I never realised that some part of me still believed that everything would turn
out alright no matter how bleak things seemed. Of course that isn't true at
all. Bad things could happen to anyone, at any time. Death does not
discriminate. Neither does its associates, anguish and torment.
Before that night I had not yet been faced with such a harsh truth.
It was frustrating to find a weakness so great within myself. A weakness I
didn't think I had the ability to defeat. Not on my own, anyway.
But Draco proved himself stronger than I ever gave him credit for. It was Draco
who fought his way free of the cage which bound him. It was Draco who gave me
the strength to defeat the most foulest of enemies I will probably ever face.
It was Draco who pulled me out of my tormented state and forced me to see the
light he always carried inside himself.
Draco shared that light with me for the briefest of moments, and our
relationship will be forever altered because of it. I know we don't look at
each other in the same way anymore. Draco may want to ignore the reality of it,
but I can't.
I walk across the deserted beach, still holding on tightly to Tyson. Salty wind
brushes over both of us. I can taste it in the air all around me. Waves crash
onto the sand, the sound oddly calming to my mind. I've always felt some sort
of connection to the sea. Our holidays here were my favourite times during my
childhood.
I'm not sure if my connection to the sea is because of my element or not. I
believe it could be. My element rumbles inside, begging to be let out.
Unleashed. Untethered.
I wish to satisfy that need now.
There's still a towel on the beach from earlier on today when the sun was out
and blistering. The sun is setting now. Soon it will disappear beyond the
water's edge.
Draco's been obsessed with catching the green flash this summer. Every evening
we come out here, Draco, Hermione, me and Tyson. We sit together on the sand,
near the caves and the rock pools. We wait there together as the sun sets.
Hermione pretends to find it tedious. But I know for a fact that she yearns for
those moments between the four of us too.
It's as if, for those few brief seconds when the green flash erupts across the
sky, we are all connected to each other in some way.
I drag the discarded blue towel closer to the edge of the sea where the water
hisses across the sand. Tyson makes soft gurgling noises that blend in with the
sounds of the sea when I lay him down onto the towel carefully.
Tyson stares up at me with those big blue eyes of his and makes a grab for my
finger. I let him grasp hold of it. We stay like that for a little while. Tyson
squeezing my finger with surprising strength, and me watching over him as I
would my other two siblings. With a vicious kind of love I could only ever have
for my family.
I wasn't sure, before we came home for the summer, if I would be able to accept
Tyson Adam Brooks into my family. I knew that I would protect him for the rest
of his life, for the sake of Dalia and Adam. I owe them that at the very least.
But I was almost certain that my interest in the child would go no further than
that.
I already had Dalia to always care for and accept me. I had Adam to keep us all
steady. I had Hermione to challenge me. I had Draco to…..keep me sane. I do
appreciate the irony in that, considering how insanely Draco usually behaves. I
had Spero to understand me. I had Yang to help me stay in contact. I had
Professor Snape to guide and teach me. I had Blaise and Pansy to keep me in the
Pureblood loop.
I didn't need anyone else.
From the moment Tyson looked at me though, I realised how wrong I'd been about
not needing anyone else. Because Tyson is, without a doubt, one of us. He's
ours, and we're his. That's how it works. That's how it is.
Tyson fills a hole in our family that I didn't even realise was there until he
filled it.
I remove my finger from Tyson's punishing grip and move slightly closer to the
sea. Tyson makes a few noises of protest, but he doesn't cry. Instead he
riggles around shamelessly on the towel, his eyes scanning the area around him,
looking for me.
I am unable to stop myself from smiling fondly. It's a curse, that's what it
is.
Leon, our element professor, taught me to always center myself before I attempt
to use my element. He told me that our elements can be guided using strong
emotion, but that in the long run it is better to have tight control over our
elements. Leon said that would enable us to activate our elements at will.
I spread my legs apart, readying my stance, and use one hand to hover over the
sea water. I feel my element burst to life inside my core. Cool water sliding
through my veins and coughing my body to come alive.
There's something else there too, inside my core. I've been trying to ignore it
for months, but every time I attempt to use my element, the feeling of
'otherness' just gets stronger. I don't know exactly what it is. I tried
summoning the 'other' power once and it felt like….a rush of air. I tasted the
win. Heard the sound of it bursting past my ears. Tiny tornadoes started to
twist up inside my core.
It was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
Ever since the Daemon attack, I've felt something shift inside my core. It's
almost as if my core split into two parts. But I know that can't be possible.
I've tried reading about it, but every book I've found states that Elementals
only ever have one element in their core. Demi-Gods hold the power of all four,
as gifts from their Godly parentage, but their elemental cores are different.
In fact they don't even really have elemental cores. Instead Demi-Gods have
their elemental power thrumming all through their bodies, which is also why
they cannot ever master any particular element the way true Elementals can.
I keep one eye on Tyson, because he is so important.
I use the rest of my concentration to pull my element up through my body. My
ring starts to turn ice cold around my finger. I feel the power flow through it
and down to the seawater beneath my hand.
A strip of water rises up and twists around my arm. I move back over to Tyson,
motioning for the stream of water to follow. I concentrate on making the water
twist into the shape of a spring, and then I push it forward so it's hovering
over Tyson.
My brother not of blood, but of soul and love and laughter and strength and
trust, looks up at me. His blue eyes study the twirling spindle of water above
him. He reaches his hands up to touch it, his small arms straining.
I lower the water close enough for him to touch. Tyson runs his tiny fingers
along the edges of the water spiral. His eyes are bright and blue and contrast
with his darker hued skin. I see both Adam and Dalia in those eyes, on that
face. I hear Adam's laughter in Tyson's laughter. I feel Dalia's strength in
Tyson's strength.
Tyson Adam Brooks is more important than he could ever know. I imagine myself,
ten years, twenty years, thirty years, down the line. I imagine talking to an
older version of the child led below me. He would be tall and broad like Adam.
He would have Dalia's eyes, set in the same delicately oval face. He would be
beautiful and strong and kind and his smile would be wide and open.
Tyson will have Draco's courage, because Tyson is bound to get roped into at
least a few of Draco's zany adventures along the way.
Tyson will have Hermione's strength. Her stubborn streak is impossible not to
admire. He will also have her love for learning, because she will make it so.
Tyson will have my understanding of the world and all the people in it. He will
know how to protect himself and the people he loves, the way I strive to do
every day.
Tyson laughs, his eyes shine, and he looks at me. Trust and joy and knowledge
that a baby shouldn't have.
But Tyson is no ordinary baby.
No.
Tyson Adam Brooks is my brother.
Draco's P.O.V
Dear Draco,
I went into the city today. It took us four hours to get there. Dragons do not
tend to live near cities. Or even towns. They prefer the seclusion of the
desert or the forest or the mountains. I think I do as well. Cities are loud.
And there far too many human beings flopping around.
I met a Zaqin-Zar Dragon for the first time yesterday. The Dragon's name was
Jarron. There are only six of them alive in the world at the moment. Zaqin-Zar
dragons have large red scales, all different shades of red all over their body.
One thing my superiors failed to mention beforehand was that Zaqin-Zar Dragons
also have crimson red eyes. It was quite a shock, I'll admit.
Anyway, I visited the closest city and stayed there overnight. Muggle hotels
are quite strange places, I must say. I was wondering, since you were raised in
a muggle household, what exactly is the black box with a window of glass in the
middle of it. A woman who worked there told me I needed to use another
rectangular box to make whatever it is work. She touched something on the small
rectangular black box and suddenly there were moving pictures inside the glass
of the bigger black box.
It was rather odd. Can you explain? What is it used for?
I'm glad you're having a great summer.
Charlie
Dear Charlie,
Zaqin-Zar Dragon! Woah, I've read about those. They're supposed to be able to
breathe purely red fire. I don't remember reading anything about their eyes
being red though. Are you sure that's natural? Could Jarron be some kind of
Demon Dragon sent from the cages of hell to avenge all Dragon kind? Azure is
always telling me that will happen someday. He says it will happen even sooner
if I don't stop my new baby brother from chewing on his tail any time he goes
near the 'foul little beast'.
The big black box is called a 'Television' and the small black box is the
'remote' which controls the 'Television'. TV is used for…um…entertainment I
guess. You can use it to watch things made by other people. Like films.
This has been the best summer ever. Even though Hermione is being super bossy
because she misses learning how to beat people up. And Harry's being all quiet
and thoughtful and secretive. So pretty much no change on that side of things.
Also, 'too many people'? Aren't you a Weasley?
Draco
Dear Draco,
What are 'films'?
My baby brothers used to chew and knaw on everything they could get their hands
on. They'd put anything in sight into their mouths. It used to drive Mum potty.
I asked my boss if the red eye thing is normal. He said 'yes'. I asked him if
he was sure, because it seemed a little weird to me. My boss said 'Dragons are
weird', and then he stalked off. My boss is a man of few words.
Did you talk to your Ma about trying out for the Xenta team this year?
And yes, I have far too many siblings. That's how I learnt to dislike being
around big crowds of people in the first place.
Charlie
Dear Charlie,
Films are kind of like plays. But on a TV screen. Imagine a load of magik
moving pictures strung together one after another. I think. Ask your Dad, he's
better at explaining muggle stuff to Wizards. I always just end up confusing
myself and everyone around me.
Ty likes to chew on a lot of things too. Except it's not really chewing because
he's got no teeth yet. He does drool a lot though. Like, seriously, there's
drool and nappies all over the house. Babies take up a lot of space for such
small humans.
Your boss sounds like Harry. He's taken to not even answering me with words
now. Instead I get face twitches and uninterested murmuring.
I did talk to Dalia about me playing Xenta. She kind of flipped a lid about it
at first. But I managed to wear her down. I made an Xenta plan-of-action
presentation. With pictures. And pie charts. And factual statistics about Xenta
injuries and death rates.
Adam thought it was a good presentation. He clapped and whistled at the end.
Hermione berated my use of pie charts over bar charts, which are apparently a
lot more efficient and professional (bleh). Harry gave me an indulgent smile
and then went back to…plotting the demise of his enemies…or whatever else it is
that he does. Tyson laughed and blew a drool bubble. Azure said Xenta is stupid
because any creature that doesn't already have wings shouldn't be flying around
anyway because it's unnatural. And creepy.
Dalia just stared at me for a really long time. Then she sighed. A lot.
But after Dalia got all that sighing out of the way she agreed to let me try
out for the team and play if I got on it. On a trial basis. I wasn't really
sure what that meant. Dalia said it means that if I cause any trouble this year
then she'll ban me from playing Xenta ever again. I said that wasn't really
fair because she knows I'm going to get into some kind of trouble. Dalia said
she knows that. I called her devious. Dalia smirked. I always wondered where
Harry got his smirk from.
Draco
Dear Draco,
I never ask my father about his work. He'll talk for hours about muggles and
all the contraptions they use. Mum sent over a care package a few months ago
and Dad put in a device he called a 'torch'. I have no idea what to do with it.
I send a letter to Dad asking him what a 'torch' is used for. He sent a message
back saying simply 'flip the switch'. I refused to dignify that with a
response. I assume 'flip the switch' is some kind of muggle catchphrase.
Babies do take up a lot of space. Trust me. I remember when we had both Ron and
Ginny rolling around the burrow. It was pure chaos. Of course Fred and George
didn't help by causing all kinds of mischief even when they were little. I
swear something exploded in our house at least once a day.
'I always just end up confusing myself and everyone around me.' I'm pretty sure
that sums up your entire personality, D.
I think you'd be ace at Xenta. I played on the house team when I was in school.
It was fun, and Mum hated it, which at the time felt like a bonus. Ask Fred and
George for help, I know they play on the Gryffindor team.
I'm actually really looking forward to meeting your family one day. They sound
pretty wicked. Weird. But then, so are you. I guess that comes with the
territory right? But I'm especially interested in meeting Harry. You talk about
him a lot.
Charlie
Dear Charlie,
That would be so cool! I'd love to meet you in person! Like with your actual
face talking with real life words so close to my actual face as I speak real
life words back to you. Epic!
Bring the torch home with you and I'll explain. I'm not sure how to describe it
in a letter.
I'm going to burrow tomorrow so I can talk to Fred and George then. Your Mum is
taking me and your family to Diagon Alley to get our school supplies.
I'm not weird!
Ok, that was a lie. My inner voice just scoffed at me.
Draco
…..
"You will behave for Mrs Weasley. All of you will." Dalia warns us, her eyes
narrowing on me, then Harry, and finally Hermione. She crosses her arms and
continues, "I do not want to hear about any explosions or fires or floods or
fighting. You will be polite and nice and calm at all times, is that clear?"
Harry stands his ground and just stares at Dalia, that endlessly frustrating
bored look on his face. He must practice that in the mirror, there's no way
someone could exude that much 'whatever' on their face naturally with just one
look.
Hermione is leaning against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest. She's
wearing skin-tight black jeans, a close fitted black vest top, black boots and
a black leather jacket. Her hair is still cut short. She looks like one of
those girls from an action film. Hermione's expression is serious and just a
bit intimidating. All her movements appear fluid and cat-like.
I tilt my head to one side and say,
"What do you mean by explosions? I've never exploded anything."
Dalia turns the full power of her stare onto me and I wince a little on the
inside. Whoops.
"Oh really, how about those fireworks last year?"
I roll my eyes,
"That doesn't count. Fireworks aresupposed to explode."
Dalia's jaw twitches,
"Not inside an ice cream van, they aren't."
I roll my shoulders back and say,
"In my defense…..the ice cream man started it."
"Oh not this again," Dalia says, shaking her head.
"He ran over my bike on purpose!" I growl, still outraged by the memory.
Dalia pulled out her most stern 'Mum' look and I fight the urge to curl up into
a ball to shield myself from being sufficiently scolded. Harry and Hermione
both start snickering.
Dalia suddenly turns on them and snaps,
"I don't know what you two are giggling about. I am fully aware that someone,"
she looks more pointedly at Hermione, "punched and kicked three holes into a
wall and then tried to cover them up with posters. I do not want a Teletubbie
poster hanging in our living room." Hermione's jaw clenches and her arms
tighten around herself.
Dalia shifts the pointed look over to Harry, "Oh, and someone else froze all
the water in the pipes, causing a plumbing nightmare that rivals even the great
sock in a drain incident of 89'."
Harry appears unaffected by the accusation, and he simply says,
"Homework."
Dalia lets out another one of those long suffering sighs. She doesn't even
bother trying to stare Harry down. Dalia knows it's pointless when Harry is in
a stubborn mood.
"I mean it, you three. I will not have you badly influencing the Weasley's. Do
not cause trouble." Dalia says firmly, her gaze unwaveringly serious.
To be fair to Dalia, she has good cause to worry. It's not like me, Harry and
Hermione haven't gone to other people's houses before. We don't exactly have
the best track record with things like that though.
I mean there was that one time when we all got invited to a neighbour boy's
ninth birthday party at his house. The boy's name was Danny Taylor. I knew him
from school. He was one of the meaner children, and he hated me in particular.
Not because of anything I'd actually done to him, but because I was Harry's
brother. Danny thought of himself as Harry's school rival. Harry refused to
acknowledge Danny at all, rival or otherwise.
Of course that only served to incense Danny even more, and he took every
available opportunity to mess with me, just to spite Harry.
I don't know exactly what sparked the hatred between Danny and Harry. But I
assume, since I know Harry, that it was probably something along the lines of
Danny attempting to befriend Harry, and Harry refusing to become the friend of
a bully like Danny.
Anyway, Danny invited everyone in our year, including me, Harry and Hermione.
That was definitely a mistake. Harry didn't want to go, and neither did
Hermione really. But I wanted to because my actual friends would be there too.
So Harry and Hermione decided to go along with me.
I'm sure they thought they were doing it to protect me or some other such
nonsense.
To cut a long story short, there was a massive food fight (started by Danny and
won by Harry once he'd brought all the other children over to his side and led
them to victory. They chanted Harry's name whilst they pelted Danny with clumps
of his own birthday cake. It was brutal.). The barbecue also ended up setting
fire to the Taylor's rather large, and expensive, wooden fence (allegedly my
fault, although I argued that point for months afterward. I refused to stand by
and watch them openly cook dead animal parts in front of other live animals. It
was just wrong.). Hermione got into a fight with Danny's older sister, ending
in a broken nose for Danny's sister and a black eye for Hermione (Danny' sister
was threatening me and Harry, so Hermione took it upon herself to defend us.
With her fists in Danny's sister's face.).
Dalia pretty much banned us from visiting other people's houses together after
that.
But now the Weasley's have invited me, Hermione and Harry over to burrow so
that they can take us to Diagon Alley to get our school supplies. It was very
nice of Mr and Mrs Wealsey to do that. I don't know how we would have managed
otherwise. I'd explained the problem to Ron, and he mentioned it to his mother.
Mrs Weasley had immediately contacted us, wanting to speak with Dalia.
"Don't be too hard on them, Lia." Adam suddenly appears from around the corner.
He's holding little Ty in his arms.
Adam has a big grin on his face as he looks at us. Even with all the sleep
deprivation, Adam hasn't stopped smiling and laughing since we came home from
Hogwarts. I think he enjoys having us all home as a family just as much as
Dalia does.
Dalia gives her husband a fond, but exasperated, smile. Adam moves closer to
Dalia and kisses her temple gently. Love shines brightly in his kind brown
eyes. Dalia leans into him and places a hand on his arm. Their eyes catch each
other's and I watch as they convey with every second that passes how united
they are.
I love my parents. I know I'm lucky to have them. Not many people can say that
they hope to have a relationship like their parent's one day.
"It's all your fault they've turned into menaces, husband." Dalia says, her
words accusing but her tone sweet.
Adam smiles widely at that and winks at us,
"Only because you love trouble, wife."
"I must do," Dalia says, her gaze skating over each of us in turn before
returning to Adam. "I must love trouble, because otherwise I never would have
married the only person other than me who was mad enough to want to adopt three
magikal children."
Adam pouts just a little bit,
"Who are you calling mad? I like to think myself the very height of normality,
thank you very much miss."
Dalia arches one eyebrow,
"You can think whatever you choose, love, but that won't save you when the nice
people with the strait jackets come for us."
"I think we should be insulted by this." I say to my siblings.
Hermione snorts out a brief laugh and Harry just shakes his head slightly, a
small smirk on his face.
…..
"Oh Gods!" A little girl I recognise as Ron's sister shrieks, and she runs
away.
We'd only arrived at the burrow five minutes ago. Ron's little sister came
scampering in asking Mrs Weasley something. As soon as she caught sight of me
and my siblings however her eyes went wide and she couldn't escape fast enough.
"Is your sister ok?" I ask, concerned.
Ron rolls his eyes at me and says,
"Yeah, she's fine. Your brother probably just frightened her with his magik and
his scowl of impending doom."
We both look over at Harry, who spares us an unimpressed look, but doesn't
comment.
Mrs Weasley gave me a big hug when I first arrived and kissed me on the cheek.
It was nice and it made me feel all warm inside when she smiled at me like I
was something special. She tried to hug Harry and Hermione too, but they both
dodged that bullet by holding onto each other and stepping swiftly away.
They're so weird and anti-social. It's a good thing most of their friends are
weird and anti-social too, or I'd be worried about them.
However Hermione does get shepherded into the kitchen with Mrs Weasley since
apparently she needs some help baking a cake for tea tonight. It does not go
unnoticed that she doesn't ask Harry to help. I think about mentioning some
helpful information regarding gender roles in the family household. I did a
project on it once in primary school.
Hermione stopped me though by talking loudly over me and stomping even more
loudly away and into the kitchen. She sends an incredulous glare over her
shoulder at me. I frown in confusion. What? People need to be informed,
otherwise how will they ever understand?
Harry, on the other hand, is actually quite quickly surrounded by George and
Fred, who both insist on showing Harry something upstairs. From the identical
smirks on their faces, and the look of challenge on Harry's, I can tell that
things probably won't end well. I'd hate to be Harry if he breaks Dalia's no
explosions rule, when, not if, the twins try to prank him.
"Want to go outside? We have a few Xenta boards. They're old, but they work."
Ron says, looking a little sheepish about it for some reason.
I smile brightly at him,
"Yeah, that'd be wicked. We can practice for when we try out for the team this
year."
Ron swallows thickly and his shrug is bashful,
"I'm pretty sure the only second year who'll get on the team is you, Draco, but
yeah ok."
I frown at little at my friend as he leads me outside. When we're some ways
into the field surrounding their house, I reach over to place a hand on his
shoulder. I pull him around to face me and squeeze his shoulder so he'll look
me in the eye when I say,
"You have just as much chance as anyone else in our year, mate."
Ron quirks an eyebrow at me and smiles peculiarly,
"You really are an odd bloke, Draco."
I frown at Ron, not quite understanding what he means.
"What, for being nice to my friend? Oh yeah, so weird. I should be like a
Slytherin and be nice to my enemies instead so I can lure them into my web of
secrets and Slytheriney-ness."
Ron snorts out a laugh,
"Shut up. It's just that you're so….I dunno. Strange. But in a good way." Ron
hastens to add, his cheek flushing a startling shade of red.
A slow smile spreads over my face.
"Ok Ronald Margaret Weasley, whatever you say."
Ron huffs out an irritated breathe,
"My middle name is not Margaret."
"I know. But it should be." I say.
Ron narrows his eyes at me and says,
"Oh, alright then Draco SandraBlack."
"That is a brilliant name!" I say, clasping my hands together enthusiastically.
Ron gives me a look of death,
"It's, like,impossible to mock you. You are unmockable."
"On the flip side it's very easy to mock you." I say with a tease grin.
Ron smacks my shoulder and says,
"I don't know how you've survived this long being as annoying as you are."
"Hermione tells me I charm people with my starry rainbow smiles and my unicorn
aura."
Ron shakes his head, clearly disturbed about something.
"That shouldn't make any sense at all. But it kind of does anyway."
Ron seems to flush even more under the apparent power of my grin. He forced
himself to look away and continue walking towards a rather dirty looking shed
near the other side of the field.
I follow after him, telling myself not to skip. I don't want to scare Ron any
more than I clearly already have today.
Ron shows me the Weasley's Xenta boards. He looks a bit embarrassed about it
for some reason. I don't get why though. I'd love to have an Xenta board. Even
a slightly shabby looking one would be great.
It's as easy as breathing to rise into the air on my Volant board. My element
of fire surges through me with renewed vitality. I can feel each of my nerve
endings burning like the tip of a match. Nothing could ever compare the freedom
of flying. I soar up into the air and let out a loud 'whoop' as the wind rushes
around me, slowly down my progress somewhat.
Ron rises a little more unsteadily on his board, but soon he's meeting me high
up in the air. I'm unable to contain the bubble of joyous laughter that spills
from my mouth. Ron joins in rather quickly, our mutual happiness colouring the
world around us.
We both fly over the burrow and the surrounding fields for a few hours. I think
I could fly all day, for the rest of my life, and never get bored or tired of
the feeling that it inspires inside me.
The burrow itself is a strange and wonderful place. There's an illusion
covering Ron's house to make it look like a nice smallish cottage. But once you
get past the illusion you can see that the house is actually made of crystal. A
bit similar to Hogwarts, but not nearly as grand or imposing.
Ron and Katie told me that most Wizarding families, especially the older ones,
have houses or mansions made of marble and crystal.
The Weasley's home is beautiful in its own way. It's understated and warm. The
crystal structure is mostly hazel coloured. Although there are some dashes of
red here and there. Inside the burrow is much the same. More gold and honey
coloured crystal. Some brown marble too.
Being inside the burrow does feel more inviting to me than the interior of
muggle houses do. I know it must have something to do with the crystal and how
it reacts to our magik, but I'm not sure how to ask Ron about it.
Perhaps I'll ask Charlie instead. He's usually very helpful when I ask
questions about the wizarding world and the way it works so differently to the
muggle one.
After a while Harry comes wandering out of the house, his steps purposeful. He
stops by the wooden fence blocking the nearest field. I watch as he looks up at
me and smiles just a tiny bit. Heat and happiness blooms inside of me at the
sight. Harry hasn't smiled at me like that for the whole summer.
I wonder for a moment why he's chosen this moment to stop being all distant and
weird. More so than usual I mean. Harry's always been, from what I can
remember, quite an aloof and secretive person. Even as a young child, when he
and I first met, I could see how he was with other people.
Harry treated me differently though. I could see that too. He talked to me in a
way he never talked to anyone else, let alone other children. He liked having
me close and he protected me against…well, anything he perceived to be a
threat.
But since what happened in the forest that night, I've been getting a taste of
the way he's treated everyone else all these years.
And I hated it.
I never quite realised how much I took Harry's presence in my life for granted.
Part of me just thought he would always love me and want me more than anyone
else. It wasn't a conscious thought, of course, but down in the depths of my
soul I thought it to be true anyway.
I was Harry's. I belonged to him. It was a truth I'd known since the moment
we'd been thrown into each other's lives.
I knew I belonged to Harry and because of that he would always protect me and
he would always trust me to see his vulnerabilities and never hurt him in
return.
Things have changed though. For both of us.
I found that I am no longer content to stand behind Harry and allow him to put
me in a cage of protection.
It seems that Harry is now no longer content to chase after me and put up with
my antics the way he used to.
Maybe it's a good thing. It could give us both the chance to strike out into
the world by ourselves.
I think I might also be lying to myself.
Harry's eyes lock with mine.
I love you Harry. I love you and I don't understand this distance you've
created between us.My eyes say.
I love you too Draco. More than you could ever possibly know. Harry's eyes say
right back.
Harry looks away then, and he walks back inside without a backward glance.
I grit my teeth and push away the stinging sensation currently attacking my
eyes.
Hermione's P.O.V
"You know you've officially made an enemy out of the Weasley twins now, right?"
I say to my wayward brother.
Harry doesn't react in any other way than a slight twitch to his lips.
"I have absolutely no idea what you mean, HG." Harry says, his voice devoid of
any obvious emotion.
I'm not exactly sure what the Weasley twins tried to do to Harry when they took
him upstairs. But whatever it was, they soon regretted it when Harry somehow
managed to use his telekinesis to hang them upsidedown from the marble rafters.
I'm also not sure how he froze them up there only using one glass of discarded
water.
It's a mystery I'm not all that worried about solving. I don't feel any
sympathy for the Weasley twins. Anyone who tries to attack Harry, friendly or
not, deserves what they get in return.
Harry, of course, refuses to talk about it or admit to any wrongdoing.
Ron Weasley thought the whole thing was hilarious. He's been teasing his
brothers ever since they got down off the ceiling. But I also see him giving
Harry sideway glances. There's fear in his eyes. I've seen the same look
levelled at Harry enough times now to be used to the coil of aversion that
settles in my stomach every time.
Harry may be a lot of things, some of them unpleasant, but he isn't some kind
of monster to be feared. He's only a twelve year old boy for Christ sake, no
matter how powerful or intimidating he is.
It wouldn't be so bad if it was just children who reacted to Harry that way.
But I've seen full grown adults flinch away from him. It's ridiculous.
All negative thoughts aside, I'm glad to be back in Diagon Alley. It's still
amazingly stunning here. All the shops are beautiful and strange. Some look
more ominous than others. It feels a lot different to the last time I was here
though.
I know I'm not an Elemental now. All the element symbolism smacks me if the
face a little bit. But I also notice shops that are obviously geared towards
God-blooded people. Small book shops with hundreds of books about the Gods,
fancy weapon shops, and shops advertising God related artefacts.
There were quite a few things we needed to get for another year at Hogwarts.
It's taken us a few hours to go around all the shops. All we need now are a
stack of books by the same author. A man named Gilderoy Lockhart.
Mrs Weasley takes us to the right shop where Gilderoy Lockhart is apparently
hosting a book signing. Harry appears reluctant, and I have to say I share the
sentiment. I've read one of his books before, or at least I tried to. It was
positively insane. The whole thing read like outrageous fiction, but it's
supposed to be read like an autobiography.
I mean honestly, if it's that easy to a famous author then I should just write
about my first year at Hogwarts. If people actually read the drivel Lockhart is
selling then I should have no problem at all.
I say this to Harry and he actually cracks a smile. It's the first real smile
I've seen on his face all summer.
Something's different about Harry. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it.
He's always been withdrawn. He's always had that darkness in his eyes, on his
face, burning the edges of his very being black.
Is my brother a monster? No
Could my brother grow up to be a very dangerous and powerful man? Yes.
Will my brother allow that power and that danger to turn him into a monster?
Now that….that is a question I cannot answer. It is a question I would not want
to answer. Not even in my wildest nightmares.
That isn't what concerns me though. I'm more worried about Harry's relationship
with Draco. They've been more than just 'close' for a long time. In fact I
don't think there are words that exist in this world that could adequately
describe what Harry and Draco are to each other. My brothers share a bond more
powerful than two lovers, far stronger than any friendship, and even deeper
than what binds a family together.
Harry is pushing Draco away though. I can see it. A tiny tear in their bond.
I'm afraid of what will happen if that tiny tear turns into a much bigger one.
I'm afraid of what will happen if Harry breaks away from Draco for some reason.
I'm afraid that if that happens, Draco might actually let it. I'm afraid Harry
will turn around one day, expecting Draco to be there like he always has been
before, and Draco will be gone. I'm afraid Draco will move on with his life and
better off for it. I'm afraid he'll lose faith in Harry and start to condemn
him the way everyone else seems to.
Most of all I'm afraid of what Harry James Potter could become without the
unwavering love and loyalty of Draco Sirius Black.
I hope with everything in me that such a situation will never exist in reality.
All the Weasley's shuffle, or trample, into the book shop. I'm about to follow
after them when quite suddenly my arm starts to burn with pain. I grit my teeth
to stop myself from making any annoying yelping noises.
I bring my wrist up and press it against my chest, my other hand squeezing my
arm as if that'll make any difference. I realise rather quickly that the scar
Magesith gave me with his tail is the thing that's throbbing painfully.
Both Harry and Draco notice my reaction straight away. Harry takes one look at
my face and his eyes instantly harden. Storm clouds gather in those green iris'
and if I weren't concentrating on the scar on my arm then I might even be a
little troubled by it.
"What the flip is going on?" Draco asks, his voice a tinkling bell of concern.
Harry knows, because somehow he always does.
"Your scar? It's hurting. Magesith is here." Harry says. He sounds quietly
angry, but also resigned to our fate of having to deal with that cat-like
creature again.
Draco's strange eyes widen, lighning crackling around inside his iris, and for
a moment he looks pleased. The concern quickly returns though, and so does some
outrage on my behalf. A look in his eyes promises doom to anyone who would hurt
his sister, scary magikal God-cat or not.
Harry and Draco leads off around the corner to a deserted alleyway. Dalia's
warning about not getting into trouble momentarily forgotten. Draco makes sure
no one is paying attention to us. They aren't, which is a small miracle
considering we're all famous now thanks to the bloody prophet and that insane
woman Ritta Skeeter. I swear if I ever meet that woman in person I'm going to
kick her arse for the vile things she's written about my family.
Harry manages to pry the arm I'm clutching away from my chest. He examines the
scar carefully. It stings even more veraciously when Harry runs his thumb over
the jagged scar. Nausea threatens when the pain becomes even more intense. But
then quite suddenly the pain is gone and only a faint ache is left in it's
place. I don't understand why the pain is gone.
Not until I hear a horribly familiar voice purr,
"Hello again my little victims of destiny."
Draco and Harry crowd in closer to me, the three of us grasping onto each other
instinctively. Our eyes dart around the narrow alley, trying to see where
Magesith might be hiding.
I frown in frustration and confusion when I can't see him anywhere even with my
superior eyesight.
"What do you want?" I ask, feeling ridiculous for speaking out loud to thin
air. But I know Magesith is here. I can feel it in my blood, right down to my
bones. My insides quake with that intense level of awareness.
Silence follows my question and I feel Harry's body become tighter and tighter
with each second that passes. Draco appears more curious than anything, but his
expression is still wary.
Just when I'm beginning to think I'll snap and explode with barely contained
tension, Magesith's voice returns and it sounds closer this time.
"I have come to collect my favour God-blooded one. You will not deny me."
I want to snarl at the creature to leave me and my brothers alone. I want to
scream at him for forcing me to gamble with my brother' lives as well as the
lives of my friends. I do not trust Magesith, not even a little bit. Harry gave
me books he'd already read with chapters written about Magesith. The more I
read, the more positive I became that making a deal with Magesith is very akin
to making a deal with Satan himself.
But even so, I gave my word. I can't back out now. Besides, I would die anyway
if I did try to resist. The books about deals with Fae, or Fae-like creatures,
was very clear about that. If you make a deal with a Fae, you must honour it.
Your own magik will rise up and destroy you otherwise.
"Tell me what it is you want from me." I say, finally.
Harry lets out a low growl, and his magik begins to buzz like a hornets nest
all around us. Draco looks between me and Harry, both determination and concern
on his face. It's an odd combination, even for Draco.
I can practically hear the smirk in Magesith's voice when he simpers,
"Tell you? Why, silly child, I intend toshow you."
I don't have any time to react, and neither do Harry and Draco, before all
three of us are swept up in a wave of pure magik. It feels similar to one of
those magikal portals we seem to keep stumbling into. Although the ride isn't
quite as uncomfortable or disconcerting.
I see nothing but silver light surrounding me, as if I've been swallowed whole
by the moon itself.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you to everyone for reading! Please comment!
***** The Fae Homeland *****
Chapter Notes
     I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM! JK ROWLING DOES
     THOUGH!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Hermione's P.O.V
My whole body feels like it's being torn apart from the inside. Ice cold claws
scrape and tear and rip at my flesh. It's excruciatingly intense. I want to
escape, run, explode, fight. Something.
All I can see is pure white light surrounding me from every angle. Harry, Draco
and Magesith have disappeared. I'm alone. Alone in the painful light. Its
swallowing me whole. Skin tight over my bones. Heart shuddering with every
beat. Veins pulsing with blood that suddenly feel too heavy. I'm drowning in a
light so pure that it burns.
A star is collapsing, turning into a black hole of despair, and I'm at the
centre of it.
Just when I think my heart will freeze inside my chest, those ghost-like claws
chasing me into death, I land with an ungraceful thud on something hard and
rough. The world spins as I desperately try not to pass out from exhaustion and
shock. I realise that I can move again, no longer restrained by ice-filled
limbs.
I squeeze my eyes tightly shut for a few more moments. My fingers spread out,
reaching for something familiar. The ground beneath me is cold and uneven. I'm
just so sodding grateful that there actually is a ground that I can touch. I
prod at the jagged surface, and swipe my fingers across it a few dozen times,
just to reconfirm its existence.
I'm on my knees, well on my hands and knees now. I risk opening one eye, but
then quickly close it again. I was really hoping this was all just a dream and
that I'd wake up at home, or at least not here. Wherever here technically is.
"Are you quite finished behaving in such a melodramatic manner?" I recognise
the bored, dryly mocking voice.
Magesith.
I open both my eyes fully this time. The sight that greets me is no less insane
the second time around. I blink fast enough to give myself a headache,
desperately trying to ignore the reality I'm now faced with. My mind can barely
comprehend what I'm seeing, and I don't even really want it to.
I slowly get to my feet, half worried that I'll fall right back over again if
I'm not careful. I catch sight of Magesith, sitting with an eerie calmness on a
large and pointy rock. He's watching me with uncaring eyes of bullet silver.
Diagon Alley has been left far behind. Instead of a deserted alley way, I'm now
standing on a very small island of rocks. Almost like a giant rock pool.
There's nothing else around us but dark, foreboding, sea water. Angry sounding
waves hit the rocks, causing droplets of water to reign down on me. I can smell
the saltiness of the ocean, and taste the chilling coolness in the air.
The sky above me is jet black. No stars or moon in sight.
But, despite all of this, there is one thing that demands most of my attention.
On the opposite side of the island of rocks is…well, I'm not even sure how to
describe it. A slit of purple. A wall of rippling power. It looks like a portal
to an otherworldly place. For all I know, it probably is. The wall reaches and
disappears into the sky, but it's narrow.
In a strange way it reminds me of a being in a dark room and having the door
slightly open, letting in a thin crack of light from the other side. The crack
is dark purple and ripples like a thousand bubbles are trying to escape through
it at the same time.
I've never seen anything quite so magnificently strange. Even with all the
magik I've witnessed, nothing has ever seemed as…otherworldly as this.
I hear a groan from my right, and only then do I realise that Magesith and I
are not alone here. Near a big cluster of rocks, partly obscuring my view of
them, is Harry and Draco.
I'm both horrified and relieved to know that they are here, in this weird-arse
place, with me.
I move around the rocks to get a better look at them. Harry is carefully
helping Draco get to his feet. Draco looks a little wobbly, but he grins when
he catches sight of me. Harry's expression though…it is that of a storm cloud
looming overhead. My brother looks pissed off.
That does not bode well. For any of us.
Draco tries to take a step toward me, but his legs give out at the last second
and he practically falls against Harry. Harry catches him and steadies Draco,
wrapping his arm around his waist. Draco's grip on Harry tightens and he leans
into him even more.
Harry appears surprised by this, or at least as surprised as Harry ever allows
himself to look. His impossibly bright green eyes widen, and his jaw ticks. He
squeezes Draco and holds onto him in a way that could only ever be described as
'possessive'. I've seen Harry pull that move a few times before, but after so
many months of it seeming like Harry was avoiding Draco, it's a bit startling
to see him touching Draco so intimately again.
"Are you hurt?" Harry asks me, his intense gaze focusing on me for the first
time.
I almost flinch under the weight of his stare, but I still manage to reply,
"No. Just feel a bit weird."
Draco says with a disgruntled huff,
"I really hate portal travel, or whatever the hell that was."
I smile at how much Draco's thoughts mirror my own.
"Are you both ok?" I ask them worriedly.
"Fine." Harry says tightly, but the underlying irritation is easy to recognise
in his voice.
"Feel like I've been trapped inside a giant tumble dryer for an hour." Draco
says, although he doesn't sound all that bothered about it. "But I'm still
alive, so that's good. Point one for team Black-Potter-Granger!" He punches a
fist into the air.
Oh Christ sake. I can already tell what kind of day this is going to be if I
have to deal with a majorly pissed off Harry and unnaturally optimistic Draco.
I wish Ajax were here so I could ask him to knock me out, then I wouldn't have
to pretend to be ok about any of this.
"Yes, yes, you're all fine and not at all dead, how wonderful." Magesith
appears on a small rock in front of us in a wisp of silvery smoke. I don't know
if I'll ever get used to seeing Magesith's teeth. He looks like an exaggerated
cartoon piranha.
Harry narrows his eyes at Magesith, and I can feel the aggression of his magik
building around us. I can practically taste the acidic edge of it on my tongue.
Harry's magik smells like charred wood and sea water. The feel of his magik
makes my eyes sting to be so close to it. I want to step away, but there's not
really anywhere to go. If I move backwards a few feet then I'd likely fall off
the edge and into the water currently surrounding us.
I expect Harry to ask where are, or what Magesith has done to us. Or, more
likely, he's demand we be returned home first. But Harry surprises me by asking
instead,
"What do you want from us, foul creature?"
"Oh, Harry Potter has a temper, I see." Magesith taunts carelessly. "The child
of Destiny and his vicious shadow are coming out to play."
"EnoughMagesith." Draco commands, his voice deepening to almost the level he
uses when he speaks the language of Dragons. The sound of it causes a shiver to
run and down my spine. When Draco speaks that way it gives me a peek into the
future, showing me the man he could one day become.
Magesith tilts his head and whips his pointed bone tail out at us. His silver
eyes fill with malicious joy.
"As you wish Dragon Lord. Far be it from me to upset the future enemy of our
Varkaz." Magesith's tittering takes on a whimsical quality.
Draco, Harry and I all exchange looks of confusion, but before any of us can
ask what in the world Magesith is talking about, the silver beast continues,
"The God-blooded child owes me a boon. I have come to collect."
"Yes, we got that part." Draco says, waving a dismissive hand. "But what do you
want us to actually do?"
Harry is still seething barely trained fury, but his magik has relaxed it's
chokehold on the air at least a little bit. I give all the credit for that to
Draco, as always.
Magesith brings one of her paws up and flashes razor-sharp claws that look more
like talons. His grin is deadly and full of casual torment. I have no doubt
that Magesith could draw screams from the mouths of even the bravest warriors.
"This is The Veil." Magesith tells us, indicating the slit of purple that
appears to be a crack in the fabric of reality. "Otherwise known as 'The
Gateway' to the Fae's homeland. Beyond it is whole new world. The Fae's world."
Magesith pauses for a moment, as if allowing us time to process what we've been
told. After a moment however he explains further. "Within that world there are
two kingdoms, Summer and Winter, and two royal courts known to most as Seelie
and Unseelie."
"I've heard about the different courts." Harry says shrewdly. "Unseelie occupy
the Winter kingdome and the Seelie take up the Summer kingdom."
"I thought the Fae had tribes, not kingdoms." I say uncertainly.
"Stupid child." Magesith scolds sharply. His tails flicks, almost catching me
on the shoulder. "There different species of Fae. Only the Fearies call
themselves tribes."
"Then what species of Fae holds court in the Summer and Winter kingdoms." I
snap back at him, my patience wearing thinner and thinner with every second I
have to stand here staring at Magesith.
Magesith sighs as if I'm just too troublesome to deal with and I have to
suppress the urge to reach out and strangle the vile beast with my own two
hands.
Thankfully, it isn't Magesith who replies to my questions. Instead Draco takes
up the explaining baton with gusto.
"Walter actually recommended I read a book about Fae species and their
heritage. I didn't think much about it at the time, but I'm glad I read it
now." Draco takes a deep breath and goes on, apparently excited at being able
to reveal his extensive knowledge. "There are six basic species of Fae;
Fearies, Pixies, Goblins, Elves, Nixies and Sprites. Fearies operate separately
from the rest and usually remain within their chosen tribe. Goblins and Elves
were banished from the Fae homeland when they revealed themselves to humans
over two thousand years ago. Sprites live mostly within the woodland areas of
the Fae homeland. They are particularly well populated in the Shadow Wood which
separates the Winter kingdom from the Summer kingdom. Pixies hold court in the
Summer Kingdom. Nixies rule over the Winter kingdom."
"Very good, Dragon Lord." Magesith praises with just the right amount of
mocking. "At least one of you won't be going into this completely blind."
Harry gives Draco a look that is a cross between exasperated and fond.
"Oh yes, all praise Draco and his obsession with dangerous magikal creatures."
Draco turns to Harry, an impish grin on his face, and teases,
"Of course, why do you think I like you so much? You're the most dangerous
magikal creature there is."
I snort out a laugh at the glare Harry gives Draco in response to that one.
"I don't know why I put up with you." Harry says, shaking his head at Draco.
"Ah, because you love me best." Draco says in a sing-song voice. He reaches out
towards Harry, as if he might actually risk hugging him.
Even I wouldn't be that brave right now.
Harry bats Draco away, but he doesn't snap at him like he would anyone else.
Actually, if anyone else tried to hug Harry without prior warning then that
person would most likely end up frozen into a human icicle.
"I have a task I need to be completed." Magesith cuts in, sounding bored again.
"I could always just send the God-blooded sibling alone, but-"
"No." Harry says firmly and without any inflection. "Where Hermione goes, we
go."
Draco nods readily in agreement.
"Marvellous." Magesith declares brilliantly. "Then I will explain what needs to
be done, and send you on through The Veil."
"Oh deep joy." I mutter under my breath.
Magesith either doesn't notice, unlikely, or simply doesn't care, more
probably. I don't believe the creature cares much for anything except his own
plots. I have no idea what a millennia old cat does for entertainment. Clearly
terrorising school children is part of it though.
Harry, Draco and I lean in closer to more accurately hear what Magesith is
going to tell us. Harry doesn't look impressed at all by the situation. Draco,
quite comically, appears excited, or at least curious. All I feel is the
gnawing omen of impending doom. This whole thing cannot possibly end well.
Magesith appears amused by our varying behaviour, but he begins speaking again
without commenting on it.
"I need the three of you retrieve something for me. It is being held in the
Winter kingdom. You will have to break into the Royal Secrets Chamber to steal
it."
Harry makes a frustrated sound, running a hand through his already messy hair.
He gives Magesith a pointed glare.
"Ok, putting aside for a moment how insane this all is, and how the hell you
expect us to break into the Winter court undetected-"
"I can give you each a glamour that will enable you to move through the Fae
homeland as any other Fae would." Magesith offers.
"A glamour?" Draco asks.
"It's a very powerful illusion." Harry says warily, giving Magesith an even
deeper look of suspicion than usual. "But even without worrying about the rest
of it." Harry continues "There's still the question of what is it that we're
meant to be 'retrieving' exactly?"
Magesith's grin turns even more sinister, which I actually didn't think was
possible, so way to go creepy cat monster I suppose.
"I need you to steal a book." Magesith tells us.
"A….book?" I say, eyeing Magesith sceptically.
Magesith just tilts his head from side to side and says,
"Well, I believe your people would refer to it as a….journal? No, something
else….."
"A diary?" I suggest.
Magesith's eyes flash liquid silver in my direction.
"Ah, yes. The item I need you to steal is black leather bound diary."
"That doesn't really narrow it down much." Draco says thoughtfully, "They could
potentially have dozens of normal black diaries lying around."
Magesith laughs, the sound scathingly cruel. He pierces Draco with a direct
stare of dark amusment.
"Oh, you will be able to spot this one. There should be a name engraved on the
front in gold."
"What name?" Draco asks, eyes wide with interest.
Magesith leans down even closer to Draco, whipping his tail around his head and
pawing lightly at Draco's shoulder. His snake slitted eyes glow like two stars
plucked directly from the sky. He says quietly, as if imparting a secret,
"Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Harry's P.O.V
Passing through The Veil is rather anti-climatic after the insanity of
everything else. Much like portal travel, you feel as if you are being slowly
burnt to death from the inside out. Although, unlike portal travel, once you
pass a certain point that feeling of pure white hot fire turns into frost bite,
the ice eating away at your heart slowly, but with a promise of unending agony.
Altogether it is far from a pleasant experience.
But, even with all of that, I would still argue that fighting Voldemort was
much worse, so I don't have much room for complaint.
Once we are thrown out the other side of The Veil, and I do mean literally
thrown as if The Veil spat us out of its mouth in disgust. Magesith sets to
work with our glamour's. There's no one else around, which gives us time to
take in our surroundings without being observed. I am grateful for the
reprieve, because otherwise I would not have been able to hide my own sense of
awe.
Just as when we were first taken to Diagon Alley, I see a whole new world
unfolding right in front of my eyes. Of course, this actually isanother world,
so perhaps I shouldn't compare it to Diagon Alley. In fact, it would probably
be an insult to compare this place to anywhere else.
If I really think about it, the only place this new world reminds of is that
awful clearing where the Eris mirror once resided. But I don't want to pull
those memories out of their safely concealed cages inside my head. Those
particular memories can rot and die and turn to dust for all I care. I have no
need of them. Unless it's to remind myself of what I almost lost that night.
I look over at Draco, who is staring in unrepentant amazement at the Fae's
homeland. I can't really blame him, it is a marvellous place. Or at least what
we've seen of it so far is. There's no way to tell if that will remain the
case. But for now I can appreciate the beauty of this world in all of its
unique majesty.
The sky above us is pure gold, adorned with two twin suns that burn both bright
red and vibrant green. There are no clouds, but occasionally the sky will
shimmer and bursts of what appear to be glittering smoke vapours will break
through the gold and consume part of the atmosphere.
Below our feet is grass of the richest gold. Not yellow. Gold. Not far away
there is a road of yellow brick that leads into a thick, dark, forest. The
trees that I can see are very large and black as soot all over. Even the leaves
are black, although some of them are tipped with gold. It is almost as if this
part of the world is desperately reaching out and trying to possess the trees
and its innate darkness.
There is nothing else around here. Off in the distance however, in the opposite
direction of the forest, I can see the faint outline of what could be a
citadel. It appears magnificent and glistening even this far away.
Hermione and Draco have already been glamoured by Magesith. I blink at them a
few times in astonishment. I didn't realise what a difference only a few
changes would make to their appearance.
The glamour seems to have had a greater impact on Hermione than Draco, probably
because Draco already looks like he could be at least part Fae naturally. Now
though Draco has pointed ears, slightly sharper cheek bones, and his eyes have
been blown up to almost double their regular size. The ring of black within his
powder blue iris' becomes even more prominent and seemingly ethereal. Put all
those things together with his pale as bone skin and white-blond hair with ash
black tips, and he looks like a Fae prince who has just stepped out of a fairy
tale.
Hermione also has pointed ears, sharper cheek bones and much larger eyes. What
she looks like now reminds me of one of those Asian anime cartoon girls. I
think Hermione would kick my arse all the way back to our world if I actually
told her that though.
Magesith turns his attention to me and I tense up when I feel a thick layer of
magik envelope my body from head to toe. I glare in annoyance when Magesith
smirks at my discomfort. I'm still thinking of ways I could skin that bloody
cat. I give it a go as well if I weren't afraid Magesith would take us all down
with him.
Draco gasps at the sight of me, and he exclaims in obvious excitement,
"You look stunning, Bolt."
It takes all my will power and control not to blush like a prat.
Hermione smirks at me, which is almost as irritating as Magesith doing it.
They're all staring at me though and I hate it with a fierce passion that I
cannot even begin to describe accurately.
"Are you all quite finished gawking at me like imbeciles yet?" I snap at them.
The gits.
That just seems to amuse them all the more, and suddenly I hate them all and
hope they get eaten by whatever evil creatures most likely inhabit this world.
"Don't you think I look pretty?" Draco asks me, her eyes going all sad and a
bit dissapointed.
Hermione arches an eyebrow and simpers at me,
"Yes, HP, don't you think our brotherDrake looks…pretty?"
I give Hermione a look that I hope conveys with absolute certainty that I
despise her very existence in this moment.
Draco is staring at me hopefully, and for goodness sake, of course he looks,
well notpretty, more…..I don't know…dazzling. Beautiful. Elegant. All of those
things. But I can't actually say that to him. For two reasons. One, because
Hermione would mock me for the rest of my life, and my sister is like an
elephant, she never forgets. Two, because….well…that's just not the sort of
thing you say to yourbrother, adopted or otherwise.
Thankfully, and quite unexpectedly, I'm saved by Magesith. He apparently got
bored watching me drown, and decided it was time to move forward with
the…quest? Are we calling it a quest? A quest sounds about right for the
ridiculousness of the situation as it stands at the moment. So, yes, we are now
on a quest. Either that or we're on a mission to the distant moon of elected
insanity.
"We are at the very edge of the Summer kingdom. You will need to travel through
the Shadow wood to reach the Winter court." Magesith says, whilst floating in
mid-air on a cloud of silver ash.
Bloody pretentious cat.
"How will we know where to go?" Draco asks, frowning pensively.
Magesith flicks his tail at the forest, which I assume to be the Shadow Wood.
Then I realise Magesith is actually gesturing at the road leading into the
Shadow Wood. The road of yellow bricks.
Oh, Gods, no.
But oh yes.
"Don't say it." I plead, knowing it will do no good.
Draco appears to clock on straight away, and his frown turns into a grin.
Hermione also picks up on the significance, but just like me she seems less
than impressed and groans, shaking her head.
Magesith knows, but pretends not to know, when he says caustically,
"Just follow the yellow brick road."
….
"Reckon we'll see any wicked witches?" Draco jokes only about two minutes into
our journey through the Shadow Wood.
Magesith has already buggered off, saying he'll meet us back at The Veil when
we have the diary. Part of me is glad that Magesith is gone, and another, very
reluctant, part of me wishes he was here so he could at least make sure we
don't run into any dangerous creatures in this bloody forest of the damned.
Once you enter the Shadow Wood, it almost seems to swallow you up. We haven't
been walking for very long, but I've already lose sight of where we came in,
even with the yellow brick road as a guide. I'd say I'm getting a bad feeling
about all this, but that's been true since Magesith showed up in Diagon Alley
and catnapped us.
"Oh don't start with that crap, Drake." Hermione retorts with a resigned sigh.
Draco just laughs and starts to do an exaggerated skip. He sings whimsically,
"We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz-"
"I do not want to hear Wizard of Oz jokes all the way to the Winter kingdom,
Dragon." I cut him off warningly.
Draco falls silent, heeding my command for once in his life. But he still
skips, which is somehow even more exasperating than if he'd continued singing.
Draco seems happy enough to amuse himself, the lunatic, without any added
assistance from us. I decide to let it go, knowing this is the best compromise
I'll get from him.
To spare my sanity, I fall back to walk alongside Hermione, allowing Draco to
skip on ahead. The inside of the wood is dark and dense, but the yellow brick
road cuts through quite nicely, offering us a clear path.
Hermione turns to me suddenly and says
"I'm so sorry about all this, HP. If I'd known back in the forbidden forest
that we would end up forced to go on an insane expedition to steal a diary from
probably very dangerous Fae, then I would never-"
I raise a hand to stop her.
"You would never have what?" I say evenly, "Made a deal with a sociopathic
magikal cat to help save me and your friends? Come on, HG, it's not like you
were given many choices. If it weren't for you, Draco would have…he
would've….died. Without Magesith's help I would not have reached him in time.
You did what you had to do. We all did. If you feel like you need to blame
yourself, then that's your business, but I do not blame you at all for the
predicament we are now in."
Draco turns around and starts walking backwards. He apparently overheard what
we were saying, because he calls out to Hermione,
"We may be on a dangerous and ridiculous thief run for a demented Wonderland
cat reject, but we're in it together. I would rather be here with both of you,
than lost inside a mirror, maybe being forced to watch you and Bolt deal with
my death."
Dealwith Draco's death? I can't even imagine a world where that would have been
possible. It makes me feel ill just trying to think about it.
I reach over to take Hermione's hand and lock our fingers together. Draco
follows my lead and wanders over to take hold of Hermione's other hand.
Hermione squeezes my hand, and I imagine she's doing the same to Draco. We both
smile gamely at her in return.
Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought. For the first time I feel hope bubble
up inside me. In this oddly peaceful moment, I feel at ease.
"Ok, I don't know about you two boring people, but I definitely feel a group
skip moment coming on."
And now it's ruined.
"We are not skippingDrake!" Hermione growls at our grinning brother.
"Oh come on, we could skip as a family. A nice family skip." Draco argues
coaxingly.
"There's no such thing as a 'family skip'." I say, rolling my eyes.
"Not yet." Draco says happily, "We could be ahead of the curve. Start a whole
new trend."
He's an idiot. An absolute idiot.
Gods, I have no idea what I would do without these two weird and wonderful
people in my life.
…..
We've been walking for two hours when we finally get attacked.
I knew it had to be coming. There was no way we could just walk through a
Sprite infested forest and come out completely unscathed.
The further into the forest we walked, the darker it became. Eventually Draco
had to whip us up a fire ball so that we would be able to see where we were
going. He kept the fire ball alight, letting it bob between us almost like it
was a third member of our group.
Not long after that we encountered out first swarm of Sprites. Apparently it
was the light that attracted them to us.
The Sprites are about the same size as the Fearie I met last year. But instead
of having blue skin, Sprites have skin the colour of bark from an oak tree. And
their eyes are completely black, making them look like mini demons. They all
have green or brown hair and their fingernails are sharpened into talons. Their
wings are black and make me think of moths.
Draco, of course, was as excited as ever to meet a new species. He started
babbling at them before the Sprites themselves could actually say anything. It
took me hitting Draco over the head for him to shut up and let the Sprites
introduce themselves.
I was on high alert at first, given our previous experience with the Fae. But
it seemed all the Sprites wanted to do was marvel at Draco's fire ball. Draco
created a few more for them enthused by their interest.
Hermione and I stood back and watched Draco impress a swarm of Sprites with his
elemental power.
I was just glad they weren't attacking us.
That gladness died a swift death all the Sprites suddenly froze, in unison, and
then scattered with lightning speed. I heard one of them squeak "Barax" before
flying away at top speed, disappearing into the darkness of the surrounding
woodland.
What in the world is a 'Barax'?
Well, whatever it is, the Sprites don't sound too fond of it, which makes me
feel even more wary. Sprites run this domain of the Fae homeland, it is their
own kingdom of sorts, if not in the same way the Nixies and Pixies view their
kingdoms. What would Sprites be afraid of inside the forest they call home?
"Draco." I say quietly.
"Yeah?" Draco looks nervous, which also doesn't bode well.
Hermione has already gotten herself into a fighting position, her eyes
methodically scanning the forest for any potential threats. I can almost hear
her cursing the fact that she doesn't have a weapon on hand.
"What's a Barax?" I ask Draco, because if any of us would know, it'd be Draco.
Draco sucks in a harsh breath, causing the wariness inside me to explode into
full on panic.
"A Barax is creature said to live inside the Shadow Wood." Draco says slowly.
"Any chance it's a misunderstood creature with a secret heart of gold?"
Hermione asks.
Draco shakes his head and swallows loudly,
"No. Barax are killers by nature. They have the body of a very overgrown
panther and the head of a wolf. Their bite is venomous."
Not so good then.
I take a small step toward Draco,
"We need to move-"
There! Right there! A flicker of movement amongst the shadows.
"Run." I hiss at Hermione and Draco. "Run now!"
Before I can even finish the last word, a creature the size of a large bear
leaps out of the trees on our left side. I throw out my hand towards and send
an ice shard hurtingling through the air in the same moment. The thick ice
shard catches the creature mid-leap, and it loses focus for a few precious
seconds.
"Run!" I yell again, and we start running.
Before we left to enter the Shadow Wood, Magesith gave us a single piece of
advice. He warned us to never, ever, leave the yellow path. Never were we to
wander off into the dense woodland on either side of the yellow brick road.
Magesith warned us that once you leave the path, it is almost impossible to
find your way back.
But right now we don't have much of a choice. If my siblings and I remain on
the path, then the Barax will surely kill us. Even with our magikal abilities,
I do not fool myself for a single moment in thinking that we are ready to take
on a creature feared even by the immortal Fae.
So we run.
And run.
And run.
Draco's P.O.V
I've read many books about magikal creatures over the summer holidays. But what
precious little information there was on the Barax didn't cover how to stop one
from chewing on you and your family.
All I really know about them is what they look like, and the fact that they eat
the hearts of their victims and leave the rest. Neither piece of information is
very helpful to our current situation. I don't know how to bring one down long
enough for me, Harry and Hermione to get away. And even if I did, there's still
no guarantee that we would survive a confrontation with such a dangerous beast.
Harry is still yelling at us to keep moving, the panic and frustration in his
voice teeters on the edge of desperate. I want to do something to reassure him
that we will be ok, that nothing could actually destroy us. But I know that
isn't true and Harry would never accept such an obvious lie, even if it was
coming from me. There's only so much a person can be expected to believe.
The three of us run through the thick black trees, trying to stay close
together. I'm afraid of losing them both in this wood, and not just because of
the Barax. There are plenty of ways the Shadow Wood has of tempting people from
the path. I've read all about it in my books. The Shadow Wood is treacherous in
and of itself, even without the deadly creatures which are known to inhabit it.
It gets colder the further away we run from the path. I can feel goosebumps
rising on my skin, and every individual hair on my body stands at attention. I
think even the hair on my head sticks up from the cold and the fright.
I can hear the panted breathes of my siblings as we run side by side. But there
is also the sound of much deeper, more animalistic pants coming from close
behind us. I feel heat emanating from the Barax reach out and coil around me.
It's so close, but I dare not look back. I push myself to keep running, to keep
moving forward.
Obviously Hermione runs faster than us, given her Olympian blood. I know that
she could run faster if she wanted to. In fact, I think she could even outrun
the Barax. But there's no way Hermione will leave me and Harry to fend for
ourselves.
I draw up fire from my elemental core and send a blast of it backwards with a
twitch of my hand.
A load roar of pure rage bellows out. It slows the Barax down, but doesn't stop
it from coming after us.
After that both Harry and I keep throwing our elemental power at the Barax.
Fire and Ice. But we can't really see what we're doing, so the jolts of power
miss just as many times as they hit. All of it only keeps the Barax from
killing us. No matter what we do, the Barax just keep coming.
Even I'm starting to feel a little hopeless. We can't outrun this beast
forever. I'd be surprised if we lasted another few minutes. I think the only
thing really stopping the Barax is the density of the trees. He can't leap on
top of us because there's not enough room.
There's a loud grunting sound, a high pitched whine, and a great ground
shuddering thud.
I almost take Harry down with me when he suddenly stops running and I crash
into his back. Hermione pulls up short beside us, confusion in her large hazel
eyes. I try to right myself, whilst Harry turns around to look back over my
shoulder.
Part of me expects to see the Barax come bursting through the trees. But I know
that would have happened already if it was going to.
"Harry, what by the Gods are you doing?" Hermione hisses at our brother.
Harry's expression is deep set and dark.
"Someone killed the Barax."
Hermione and I both stare at Harry in shock as he begins walking back the way
we came from. After a moment of silence we follow after him. It doesn't take us
long to find the Barax, dead, as Harry predicted. The Barax is sprawled against
a large rock with a silver arrow embedded in its chest.
Where the flipping hell did that come from?
Like the universe read my mind and wanted to answer the question, a blue light
suddenly appears, coming towards us from our left side. Harry and Hermione both
tense up, their faces changing, forming expressions that are both determined
and intimidating. Hermione takes hold of the silver arrow and yanks it out of
the Barax. She brandishes the blood tipped arrow like a weapon, deadly intent
shining in her eyes. Harry's magik crescendos around him, creating a thick wall
of resistance between us and the potential threat.
They're ready for a fight. I'm ready to thank whoever it is who just saved our
lives. I feel that the mixture of both keeps the balance between wary and
polite.
A few moments later our rescuer reveals himself. And he's not alone.
A boy, probably no more than a couple of years older than us, steps out from
the shadows holding a bow. He has a few arrows strapped to his back, and
floating beside him a blue lantern. The boy is, in short, stunningly beautiful.
He has the same large eyes and sharp features given to my siblings and I by
Magesith. His skin is pale, maybe even paler than mine, like freshly fallen
snow. The boy's hair is silver, not grey,silver. I feel as if I could see my
own reflection in it if I got closer. His eyes are also silver, much like
Magesith's, but without the tinges of cruelty and madness. He's slim, and of
average height.
Flanking the Fae boy are two much larger Fae. They are pale skinned, but
muscled and broad. All three of them are dressed in what appears to be hunting
gear. Leather and protective armour. The two larger Fae hold weapons, big
jagged swords that look like they could cause a lot off damage if wielded by a
skilled and competent hand.
It's the boy Fae who addresses us first.
"By the solstice, who are you?" His voice is frigid with suspicion.
Hermione and Harry both look like they will refuse to answer, the two of them
still assessing their new enemy for weaknesses and blah blah blah. I take a
step forward, ignoring Harry's growled warning to stay put. I am gonna get in
so much trouble for this later.
Fae boy's eyes flicker to focus completely on me. I such in a harsh breath at
the intensity in his blatant stare.
"Hi! First of all, thanks for stopping the Barax." I'm unable to contain my
frown though. "But did you really have to kill it?"
"Oh for the love of-" Hermione cuts herself off with a groan and a hand slapped
against her forehead.
"Dragon." Harry growls my name in a way that causes genuine shivers to race up
and down my spine.
"Are you berating me for killing the creature who would have otherwise murder
you and your..."
"Family." I supply, smiling kindly. "And no, I wasn't berating you. I just
wanted to know if killing the Barax was completely necessary."
The Fae boy gives me look like I have some kind of contagious disease and says,
"You sound just like the Sprites. Peace and equality to all creatures and other
such nonsense."
I tilt my head to one side and say firmly,
"I don't think it's nonsense to want peace or equality. Both of those things
are important, and well worth fighting for."
"I can't believe this is actually happening in real life." Hermione huffs out
in defeat.
"Maybe we died, and this is some sort of weird-arse version of purgatory."
Harry says wearily.
"Who are you?" Fae boy asks, sounding aghast.
I smile wider and lift a hand to wave at the boy who is standing three feet in
front of me. Because I am a socially unacceptable human being.
"My name's Draco. Nice to meet you. I think. Maybe. We'll probably have to get
to know each other a little better before I can know for sure."
"Better question." Harry interjects icily, "Who are you exactly?" He directs a
pointed glare at the Fae boy. His eyes dart between the two bigger Fae, but
they have yet to speak, and I get the feeling they won't be willing to any time
soon.
The Fae boy draws himself up, rolling his shoulders back and matching Harry's
glare with one of his own. He says in a different, more formal, voice,
"I am Prince Xavier Errox Aeon. Crowned Prince and heir to the thrown of the
Winter kingdom and court."
Oh. Crap.
Chapter End Notes
     Special shout out to-KingChanyeol,rhan and Rilliam-THANK YOU MY
     UNICORN BRETHREN! x
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!