The Lord of The Fae

What had he done? Ron stared at the bandages on his chest in almost hopeless dejection, contemplating everything that had happened in the past month. He had been such an utter fool, he knew that could see it with utter clarity. The fact that whatever concoction that death eater had forced him to drink the night of his sister's death had deluded him was really no excuse in his mind. Since being forced to drink it he had been locked a prisoner in his own mind to his baser instincts. A damn puppet that Voldemort pulled on a string to harm his friends and those that her loved. He hadn't even remembered. How did you not remember being forced to take poison, feeling it slither into your body and infest everything inside you.



He shivered at the memory but made no moves to draw his blankest up any further. He had been horrified, terrified had stumbled back to the camp to warn Harry and Hermione that the death eaters where close. With each step he had taken his mind had grown weaker and lest resistant to the invasion. He had slowly begun to forget what he was worried about, what exactly had he meant to tell Harry when he reached the camp. Whatever was inside him hid itself well sending him soothing commands and hiding itself from him?



When he had reached camp he had completely forgotten and the sight of Hermione had filled him with usual butterflies in his stomach. The usual longing and thirst for something he was always afraid she wasn't willing to give. This time the fear had been replaced by raging need with such force he'd been stunned by it. It had been vital to him to kiss her to touch her. Everything in him had strained towards that one goal.



He recognized that Voldemort had played on his own feelings for his own ends. He desired Hermione so he had thought to use him to infect her as well therefore having two weapons instead of one. Thank god she had resisted and broken away. She either hadn't heard his warning, the frantic screaming plea he'd given her or she hadn't remembered it. He couldn't fault her because he hadn't either each and every day it had grown stronger lulling him into a sense of safety completely unaware and heedless to the fact that he was most certainly loosing himself.



It was because Voldemort had played on emotions already present that he had been such an effective weapon for Voldemort to use. He did never want to feel as helpless as he had that night. He did want to do right and to help the world. Voldemort had intensified those feelings into a fever pitch to get him to accept the sword. Ron knew that had he been in his right mind he would have run in the other direction. Voldemort was not about to let him say no, to convince him he had amped up his feelings of guilt and grief over his sisters passing. God only knew he missed Ginny like one would miss the heart torn from his chest. And what had happened to Fred and George had nearly brought him to his knees.



But he would never have been crazy enough to risk his life and his soul to bring her back, or to say half the things to Harry and his friends that he had said. He clenched his fists trying to bite back tears of disgust and anguish. That was the thing, Voldemort played on emotions that where already there. Did he really think and feel those ugly things. Did he reject Hermione and trample on her spirit because it intimidated him. Did he really look down on Dean and Seamus because they had found love in a place that he wouldn't ever find it?



Did his friendship with Harry run only as deep as a shallow stream? Could he really hate and defile his friends because their partners of choice were not too his own liking? He trembled where he lay, what kind of person was he. When his bedroom door swished open and Hizen entered he barely glanced up, he was so lost in his own misery.



Hizen stared at the young man sitting up in his bed head downcast eyes desolate, and sighed again. The young master did not have much time before his burning trials started. This was the name Naru had given it when he had suffered through them much the same as Ronald would two years of misery and burning pain awaited him and before that time he had to be at peace or he would never survive the undertaking of full Earth King power. The pain itself might be too much to bear alone. He could not afford to add the pain of discord among friends. None of the youth could yet they persisted in doing just that.



"Young masters friends have awoken. They are in the study will you not join them?" He asked waiting for the young mans response. It came much as he expected a short and simple shake of his head. Hizen saw his hands clench and his teeth grit as if biting back words or tears. Their was not time for this, his burning trials could come any moment at this point and he was not ready.



"And why not, does young master think that his friends will desert him? Look on him with disfavor for things that he can not control. We all have seeds of darkness but it is our choice whether we water them, but so too must we remember that as mortal men we do not control the rain no matter our great power and when it rains we do our best to carry on. Your friends will not reject you for things done in the past; it is only you who does that now." The old man counseled with a sage nod.



Ron stared at him unblinking, was he right would Harry simply forget the things he'd said and done and forgive him? Would he understand that it had been Voldemort and not him that had said those things? Did he even know that, how did he know that it wasn't how he really felt? Hizen eyed him again a familiar twinkle lighting in cool grey eyes.



However he did it Hizen once again appeared to be able to read his thoughts and feelings. “You forget young master that the fae have looked into you're very soul and found you worthy. Would they choose a man whose true nature was so vile and cruel as you have displayed under the influence under one so dark?"



Ron felt his mood instantly brighten Hizen was right. The fae would not choose him if he hadn't been worthy. He was not particularly thrilled about the life ahead of him, in fact he wished like hell he could take it back. However what was done was done and could not be undone. And he was not going to sit in his bed and weep about it. In the coming battle Harry would need his help more then every. He had destroyed all but one horcrux and after that darn Locket was found and destroyed they could get to killing Voldemort. Harry was going to need all the friends at his back he could get. And if he was angry and resentful and rejected him, well he had every right to do just that. But he was going to stick by his friend. Even if it killed him to do so.

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When Harry had entered the study he had found Lupin, Sirius and Snape already in it. Snape and Sirius where up to their ears in books, while Remus looked to simply be looking on in amusement. Shortly behind him Hermione had entered with a young Japanese lord Harry recognized as Hiaro Niaki the only female Japanese wizard in residence at the moments nephew. She appeared rather aggrieved by his presence tossing him resentful glances.



"Hiaro for the last bloody time, my answer is no! No I will not teach you! And no I don't want too discuss it!" She snapped slapping a book onto a table in the study sitting down in a graceful huff. Her brown hair swishing in the firelight, she looked fit to do murder. Hiaro stared at her as if she where the rarest thing he'd ever seen before a wistful light entered warm gray eyes.



"Miss Granger, I am not asking you to betray my aunts trust. I simply ask that you share with me a bit of my birth right. Shojini is in my blood and by right should be mine. Not given to any stranger." he explained levelly placing one lean hip on the table she worked on. Hermione jerked her head around and seeing that everyone in the room was in deed watching this exchange she flushed red and glared at the Asian youth smiling down so solemnly. He was taller then she by several inches a rarity amongst the Japanese but not in his family. Niaki had assured her that it ran in her family that the men where tall and lanky and the woman willowy and graceful. For the month and some that they had been here this particular young man insisted on dogging her steps and demanding she teach him everything his aunt was teaching her.



When she had first met him he had worn his silky black hair in a devil may care ponytail, one that drove his father and his aunt wild. It was after all a Midwestern style that they abhorred thinking it made him look frivolous and without honor. Niaki had confided in her that she hoped her Nephew grew out of this phase he was going through of fighting centuries of tradition. Niaki’s prayer had been dashed, on his 21st birthday last week Hiaro had cut his hair till it was just barely shoulder length and had died the ends of it flame red. He looked like some sort of pop star and his father had denounced him accordingly. Refusing his aunt and any other master to teach him the art of the Shojini, a style of fighting that had been passed down in their family since the beginning of the Lore.



She personally thought it was a little cruel to deny him what should rightfully be a part of his life simply because he looked a certain way or was going through a certain stage. Lord knows there was a time when every youth searched for his independence. What she did have a problem with was Hiaro’s arrogance and his lazy attitude. They where in the middle of the biggest war mankind may ever fight and he treated it as if it where a minor skirmish. He didn’t practice with the other youth and often left the castle for days at a time doing who knows what.



Her learning Shojini was supposed to be a well kept secrete and he had announced it to the entire room as if informing everyone that the sky was blue. She tossed him a withering glare; didn’t he care about anyone or anything but his own pleasures?



“Is that what Niaki’s been teaching you?” Sirius asked excitedly momentarily putting his book down to stare at her in barely hidden delight. Snape rolled his eyes and scooted away from him, Sirius without taking his eyes off Hermione shot one hand out to grab his. She couldn’t see what he was doing because the table blocked her view but whatever it was Snape looked a little flushed in the face.



“Yes, but you aren’t supposed to know! Hiaro look what you’ve done!” She scowled turning on the older boy. He looked bored with the entire thing and with one graceful wave of his hand he waved away her concern and leant forward till his face was inches from hers. His features where beautiful in the way of his people and she found that hair of his slightly charming so close up. She shuddered in disgust at herself.



“Look Miss Granger I do not care. Your friends would have been told in time, now they just know a little sooner. What I care about is the fact that you a being taught what is mine to be taught.” He pointed out still as calm and uncaring as ever.



“Hiaro we’re in the middle of a war, anything that can help Harry we need to know! And your resentful because their teaching it to me and not you! Don’t you care about anything other then yourself?” She accused crossing her arms and glaring up at him. His mouth tightened but that light of cool calm of his never wavered.



“Do not speak of my feelings and my cares as if you know them little girl. My father is Shodan of his village ruler of his people and if he should die in this war, if you’re….” He turned and tossed a cool glance at Harry. “…Hero should fail, you all shall die with him. The dark lord will leave no one who fights alongside Harry alive, shall show no mercy. My father and my aunt will die leaving me Shodan. If I only think about myself I would not care about learning my people’s way of fighting. I would just leave them to their fate unprotected without a Shodan. I will not do that; I must learn to protect them. And you are going to help me!



Harry was going to defend himself when Ron strode through the open study door and eyed the young lord with something close to disdain. He tossed Harry a slightly nervous glance and turned to address Hiaro.



“You won’t have to worry about it because Harry won’t fail. I’m not deluding myself its going to take all that we’ve got, but if anyone can do it its Harry.” He glanced again at Harry, his eyes filled with determination and partly with sorrow. They where seeking, Harry knew he was wondering if he would forgive him for all that he had said and done in the past. Harry fought back a grin; Ron could be so dense at times. At the sight of him Hermione had perked up in her seat her eyes raking over his form as if to assure he was really standing there. Hearing him say this, her eyes had gone warm and filled up with tears.



She pushed out of her chair and passed Hiaro and walked hurriedly into his arms. He held her tightly to him and she trembled slightly. “Its good to have you back Ron.” She whispered into his shirt. Then realizing what it was she was doing she stepped back a faint blush of embarrassment on her cheeks. Harry laughed, and tossed his two best friends a cheeky grin.



“You two are endless you know that. You keep going in circles with each other everyone else gets it.” He said saucily and only laughed more when Ron tossed him a scathing look.



Hiaro however was not appeased; in fact he had gone stiff and his eyes lost their cool sheen and they blazed with anger at Ron. “Excuse me boy king if all my doubts still remain after so noble a speech. Voldemort does not give rewards for merit! He will destroy all of you and I will not leave myself and my people defenseless.”



Ron’s face turned red and he stepped away from Hermione to face off with Hiaro. “What did you call me?” He demanded icily. Harry watched in bewilderment as Hiaro stepped forward his body appearing relaxed but anything other.



“You heard me little boy king. My father and the other masters may pay homage to you but I shall not. I do not bow to any man because of the sword he bears. You want my allegiance little boy, then earn it!” Hiaro spat then he glanced at Hermione and his eyes chilled again. “You will teach me what is mine right to know! I will not let the knowledge of my people die with young fools.” He turned back to Ron and with a bow that was more mockery then respect he swept from the room.



“Wow what crawled up his arse and bit him a new hole?” Seamus asked coming into the room just after Hiaro’s leaving it. His hair was slightly rumpled as if he had just come from a rough night of sleep. Harry grinned sleep probably wasn’t it though.



“He is being denied the art of his people and has been disowned by his own father. And for reasons that are pure nonsense of course. Voldemort would have a field day recruiting death eaters in this place. It’s the kind of thing he feeds on, discontent in the young.” Snape pointed out, he jerked and tossed Sirius a scathing look of rebuke.



Sirius grinned and nodded in agreement. “Don’t see what their so bent out of shape about he’s young and kids experiment with their looks.”



Hermione rolled her eyes and her lips pursed as if she had gotten a nasty taste in her mouth. “Its not just that, Niaki and his father can see that he’s lazy self-centered, arrogant and selfish. Maybe they don’t want that in their next Shodan.” She said with disdain.



Snape raised one slender eyebrow and stared at the young woman, “Really because I didn’t see a self centered young man. I saw anger and jealousy of course but nothing as selfish as you have named him. What about you Sirius?” He asked turning to Sirius who nodded his head in agreement. His bangs had fallen in his eyes and Snape reached up absently to brush them out of the way. Sirius felt something warm and light spreading in his chest.



“I agree Sev, he’s angry alright and trying not to let the world know his families treatment of his differences hurts. Plus he’s turning green with envy every time he looks at you Hermione.” Sirius declared winking at the young woman. She gave that all the reply it deserved, a bored and uncaring nod.



“I know he’s jealous of my learning Shojini but that’s hardly my fault and it’s not like I’ll stop just because his prides getting stepped on.” She turned back to her book as if to say the discussion was over. Snape turned to Hermione with a sneering glance.



“If that’s what you think then I won’t bother pointing out the obvious. You’ll figure it out in time, in the mean while Granger what harm would it do to teach him?” he asked.



“A lot of Harm!” Hermione snapped, “Besides his father has forbidden anyone teach him.”



“No his father has forbidden his people to teach him,” Snape corrected. “He does not have the power to command you as you are not Shojian. However if Weasley does not want you to teach him he could demand that you not. Couldn’t you Miarza` or is it boy king these days.” Snape said sneering at Ron.



Ron’ body went rigid and he turned on Snape body taught with anger. “I could now that you mention it Snape. I could also command you, do you realize that. I have the power to make you dance naked in the hallway and shout Harry is my lord. Would you like that?”



Harry burst out laughing at Snape’s look of utter disgust at the very idea. He also noticed that Snape didn’t seem all that angered by Ron’s retort. A glint of amusement flashed in his eyes before he buried it. “Temper temper Weasley. You’ll need to learn to control that if you’re going to be Earth King. As boy kings go your off too a bad start.



Sirius shot Snape a mischievous grin and eyed him in speculation, “I don’t know Severus I might not mind you dancing naked. Sounds rather interesting to me”



Harry caught the grin that wanted to break loose on Snape’s lips before he bit it back. “You would now wouldn’t you Black. I’ll let you do the dancing as I actually have some dignity unlike you.”



“I have dignity!” Sirius retorted affronted by this declaration.



Snape eyed him with cool delight. “Your right Sirius your coming to me on your knees and apologizing was the most dignified thing I’ve ever seen. Oh and begging me to take you was inspiringly dignified, oh and when you came on the floor for me was…”



Sirius had gone red the first couple of words and at this he reached out and hit Snape on the shoulder hard. Snape just smiled at him as Sirius scolded, “I get it Snape! Jesus Snape, why do I even put up with you?”



Over by the bookcases Remus chuckled and with a shrug he advised, “Don’t be too ashamed Si, sometimes with love you have to give up a little dignity.”

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Sometimes with love you have to give up a little dignity. Remus’s words stuck with Harry all through dinner and the rest of the evening. Draco had not come down from his rooms exhausted from yesterday’s ordeal. He had exerted a lot of energy and was recuperating. Harry’s own body still screamed at him in rebuke when he moved too fast.



He couldn’t deny that he had feelings for Draco. He sat on his bed that night petting Slyfer absently as he reviewed all that had happened in the past month. How much he had changed and how much things had changed. He probably shouldn’t feel the way he did about Draco, it was strange and intense and something he couldn’t seem to stop. Neither did he have much control on it either.



In all fairness he had been wrong to judge Draco, their where layers to him that Harry hadn’t bother to examine before. That still didn’t erase Dumbledore’s death and Draco’s part in it, the fact was Snape may have killed him but he never would have if Draco hadn’t have been a moron and gotten himself into that mess. He couldn’t even hold that against him anymore, how many times in his life had he shoved his brain into a closet and locked the door.



And the truth was he just didn’t want to. He found he liked Draco’s dry sense of humor, most certainly his body, and his sense of loyalty. If misguided at times, Draco was inherently loyal. He had stood by his father like any son worth half his salt would do even when it hurt him to do so. He had protected and befriended Alex. He had natured Slyfer when anyone else would have left him to die.



Harry felt himself smiling; Draco acted like such a badass all the time. Like he was made of rock and ice and Harry was foolish for being so emotional. The truth was Draco was just as soft as he was, just better at hiding it. There wasn’t much about Draco he didn’t like, besides his habit of getting under his skin. Even that, Harry thought was becoming more of a pleasure then an annoyance.



The dignified thing to do, the noble light side heroly thing to do was to offer Draco his friendship and continue on from there. To go defeat the dark lord with her name on his mind like a banner, and to say proudly when he smote his enemy that it had all been for her. Cut fade out scene end.



That would be very dignified, and would make an excellent story for Wizard and muggel kind alike to tell around dinner tables and to little children before they went off to sleep. What if he did differently though. What if he looked back and admitted that he’d loved Ginny like a sister, a friend and wished she where here right now. And that part of him was glad she was not here, because he had loved her and he was glad he’d given her what she’d always wanted before her death. They’d been together and she’d been happy and he’d been happy to give her happiness in return.



Sooner or later it would have ended, He would have had to come here and find out he needed his worst enemy. At first the sparks would have flown and they would have battled each other in attempts to kill each other much as they had this time. But eventually this very thing would have happened, he wouldn’t be abel to fight what Draco made him feel. And Ginny would have gotten hurt and that was the last thing he ever wanted to do to her.



What if instead of pining after lost love he cast that all aside and grasped new love with both hands and never let go. If he battled his worst enemy with all those he had lost in his memory but Draco’s love in his heart giving him strength. He knew that’s where his power came from; he could never use it without Draco. Something about the power of that love fed his dormant powers into awakening. Who cared if it wasn’t dignified, if Sirius could get on his knees in front of a man he had hated in his youth in an effort to save love then who gave a damn about dignity.



“Amazing deduction Harry. I applaud your skill at using that brain nature gave you. Now how about you use the body it gave you and actually go do it!” Slyfer hissed in bored amusement. Harry shot him a smile and purposely shoved him off his lap, dumping him on the floor in a heap.



“Thanks Sly, I think I’ll do just that.”

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Draco had been dreaming about great forests full of trees and strange plants. Of fae people darting behind giant leaves staring at him as he walked through their woods with wonder and fear. Then he had reached a valley of stone and fire, a castle had stood in its mist made entirely of ruby’s it seemed to blaze as if it was flame. The fae gathered there stared up at him in wonder, on the air a Dragon roared a its wingspan blocking out the sun as it stared down at him from the sky. Slyfer, the fire fae kings trusted friend and kin dragon. He would only allow the Fae king to ever mount his back. Draco had named his own dragon after this mythical and majestic beast.



He felt a shiver of fear go through him that was raw power that circled above him. Eyeing him, watching and waiting. He seemed to call him forward, as if he invited Draco to try and mount him. To soar with him through the sky’s its lord and master. Draco knew from legends and reading his mothers books on the fae that Slyfer killed anyone who dared to try and mount him. He recognized that he was dreaming, but something warned him that where Slyfer to turn on him the dream would end but his death would be very real indeed.



Slyfer was meant to be ridden by only one. The lord of the fae, The king. He shivered as he watched Slyfer circle above him. A keening sound of entreaty resonated from the Dragons neck and the dragon in him wanted to answer. He felt it inside him reaching back in answer.



“The world is in turmoil young dragon seeker. Both your worlds need your aid and at the same moment. Ember put her husband into the sea; his death has unbalanced the elements. Our kingdom is in danger. If the fire fae cease to exist fire will no longer be present in your world. Everything in our element and belonging to it will fade from both worlds. And any work you do in your own will have been for naught. The dragons voice was stronger and more vibrant than anything he’d ever heard. He flinched in pain, but bared it with gritted teeth.



”I won’t leave my mate to fight alone.” Draco said in reply, and he said it with determination. He would never leave Harry to face Voldemort by himself.



”Nor would I ask it of you young one. When you have finished with your business in your own world you must come back to the land of your origin. You must right what has been wronged. I command it of you!” and with that Slyfer flew away in a great gust of magnificent wings and power. Draco shivered, watching him leave. The fae in the valley stared up at him in pleading glances. Their fire appeared thin and wavering like they where all dimming candles fast fading.



He shivered again, but this time it was because something had brushed the back of his neck. A warm sensation filled him. And everything seemed so much brighter the people below him where laughing dancing their fire bright and untamed. Joy filled him like it never had before, and he went down and joined them. For the first time in his life, Draco truly felt as if he belonged some where.



Harry watched Draco sleep with something like wonder on his face. He looked utterly beautiful when he slept. There where no shadows on his face and no strain on his lips when he slept. Harry trailed one finger over the soft skin of his neck, then onto his shoulder marveling at how soft and white he was. Did he feel guilty for climbing into bed with a man without his permission? Well slightly but he was hoping when Draco woke he wouldn’t mind. He kissed those slightly smiling lips of Draco’s wishing that he would wake, but unwilling to disturb his rest.



“I’m going to offer you everything. Like you did when we where little, do your remember it Draco. When you stuck out your hand and offered me your friendship. I never saw how much that meant to you, how much you really wanted what we have now.” He whispered into the blonde’s hair inhailing the scent that was purely male and so purely Draco.



“I turned you away then. I drove a wedge between us from the very beginning, and we’ve lost years. Well I’m tearing down all those walls and fences we’ve put up over the years. I’m going to stand before you and offer you everything. I think our relationship should start with the handshake I turned away. And when where old and gray and fading from this world I want it to end with our hands clasped. So in the morning please Draco. Don’t turn me away.”