Darkmoon and LIght

Disclaimer --- not mine, no money made. It's just wishful thinking on my part as well as for every other Harry Potter fan.

Quel amrun Lirimaer (Good morning lovely one) Elven phrase found in the Grey Company's phrase book.

Thanks once again to Kei for her wonderful work.

Chapter Eight

Shortly before dawn, Eve sat enjoying the soft breeze and contemplating the reasons behind her actions for the past for years, trying to figure out how she could forget that she had another grandchild by blood running around this old earth. Only one thing, or should she say person, kept coming to mind and she had to smile ruefully. ‘Ah Lily, you weaved your web better then you ever thought,’ she sighed in her mind. ‘No matter, we know now, and will work to correct the damages. I don't blame you for trying to protect the son of your heart from those wishing him harm, and I don't think the others will either.’

Shaking her head to help clear her thoughts, she allowed the special magic only noticeable to Elves that came with the dawn to replenish and renew her spirits. Sinking down into her core, she finally allowed herself to commune with the abundance of nature surrounding her. She allowed herself to slip so far down that she didn't notice she was no longer alone, until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. Opening her eyes she looked up to see the awe reflected on her youngest grandson's face and had to smile at the sight. “Quel amrun Lirimaer.”

Harry didn't seem to hear her, intent as he was on the magic playing around him. “Is it always like this, Mamere?”

“No Childe. It's only like this at Dawn, but each part of the day brings its own magic, if you just care to look.”

“Why am I only seeing it now, then?”

Eve smiled and produced another chair for Harry to sit in. “Your sixteenth birthday is soon, and as it draws closer, more of your Elven heritage will be released. This is just the first of many new gifts.”

“Not the first one Mamere,” Harry replied with a soft smile, and twisted his wrist summoning a small box from his room.

“Does Darkmoon know you can do that?” she asked amazed.

“Yes Ma'am, he knows he owes me an endless supply of chocolate,” he grinned.

“Good Merlin, what was that man thinking?” Eve exclaimed, delighted on Darkmoon’s quick way to teach this young man to try his Elven magic, and for him to learn to trust the adults around him.

The two of them sat silently for a few minutes enjoying the magical display, but Eve knew that something was bothering the young man.

Her patience was finally rewarded when he started asking questions, just not the ones she had expected.

“Does it bother you? My calling you Mamere, I mean.”

Turning to her grandson so she could see his expressions she asked her own question. “Do you know why you call me that?”

“No ma'am.”

“All elves have the ability to recognize who their family is, or those who are to become family. Everyone who is blessed by an elf will give that elf a family name; it's why your Draco calls me Aunt. In your case, you call me mother, although it's the French version of it, probably because you do not remember ever having one,” she explained. “To answer your question, childe, I don't mind that you call me that, but you may confuse people when they find out about you and Darkmoon, considering that he calls me Grandmere.”

“Would you be disappointed if I started calling you Grandmere as well, then? In order to avoid questions I may not want to answer, I mean.”

“Not at all, childe, not at all.”

Enjoying the silence once more, the two of them sat and watched the last of the sun rise, before Eve started explaining a few more things that she thought Harry should know.

“You will find yourself trusting others around you for no real reason, and that works on the same principle. It's your Elven senses coming to life and letting you know that you can trust someone that you may have never trusted before, and you may also find yourself no longer trusting those you have trusted in the past.”

Harry sat silently for a few more minutes, just taking it all in. “Like I trust Severus. If anything, he should be the last person I should trust, considering our past. It’s probably just one step above me trusting the Malfoys before this,” he finally commented softly.

“I never did figure out why you didn't like my father as much as you did. I don't ever remember him doing anything to you directly,” a new voice answered just as softly.

Harry turned and looked behind him at the rumpled blond still wiping the sleep out of his eyes, and shrugged lightly. “The first time your father tried to kill me was near the end of our second year. He was with those who wanted me dead at the end of fourth year, and again a few months ago. He, unlike Severus, has never given me a reason to trust him, and every reason to avoid him like the plague.”

“That… explains a few things,” Draco said slowly. Still leaning against the door, Draco watched Harry as he tried to wrap his mind around the fact that his father had tried to kill someone the same age as he was. Noticing as Harry shivered in the light breeze, he summoned a blanket and walked to Harry, and moved him forward enough to sit behind the darker teen. Pulling Harry back against his chest and tucked the blanket around them both. Moments later, Draco felt Harry relax fully against him, and smiled while wrapping his arms securely around the now-sleeping teen.

Eve smiled fondly at the two of them, when she noticed that Harry had fallen back to sleep and that Draco was not far off from doing the same. Standing she bent over and laid a gentle kiss on both their foreheads. “You two make the sweetest couple,” she whispered and walked away, not noticing when silver eyes slit open slightly and a frown marked the blonde’s face.

~~hp~~

Opening one blurry silver eye, Draco winced at the bright sunlight that hit his face. Judging by the angle, he had only been asleep for an hour, maybe two. Shifting carefully in order not to disturb Harry, Draco thought about what both his father and aunt had implied, and admitted to himself that he had felt the same way.

But now, with the comfortable weight of the Boy-Who-Lived curled up against him, he forced himself to admit that what he was feeling was not what everyone hoped. He knew he cared for, and was extremely comfortable with Harry, but there was none of the spark that he knew was part of a love match in the Wizarding world. Sighing softly, he acknowledged that the only thing he really felt for the boy in his arms was that of a very good friend, and maybe what he would assume the love of a sibling felt like. The jealousy he had been feeling when the “Golden Trio” had been brought together was more from the fact that Harry did have such good friends, and that he wanted that kind of relationship with some one as well.

Maybe now was his chance.

Squinting up at the sun, he realized that he had spent at least half an hour lost in his thoughts, and looking down, he met bright green eyes calmly studying him. “Good morning Harry.”

“Blessed morn, Draco,” Harry returned, not really noticing the greeting he gave was one an elf gave to one not of their kind. “Do you want to talk about whatever is bothering you?”

Draco sat silently trying to figure out what to say before sighing and telling the truth. “Last night, my father said that ‘Things will work out in the end.’ At the time, I thought he meant something else, but your grandmother commented just after you fell asleep that we make a sweet couple,” he explained, and noticed that Harry's eyes went wide in shock.

“But I don't think of you that way!” Harry exclaimed and started to pull away. “I'm sorry Draco, but I just can't say otherwise.”

Tightening his arms, Draco pulled Harry back against him. “Shh, it's okay. I don't think of you that way either. I was worried though that you might, and didn't want to hurt you,” he murmured in Harry's ear, hoping to calm the panic that he could feel forming. “Loved but not beloved,” he continued. “I think that I feel the same way for you as I would have if I would have had a sibling.”

Listening to the words, Harry had to calm down and steady his breathing, which he could feel tightening his chest. When he felt he could talk without wheezing, he agreed. “Exactly. I do love you Draco, just in the same way I love Ron and Hermione.” Feeling Draco stiffen at that, he pulled away slightly and laughed. “I'm sorry Dray, did I hurt your feelings?” he grinned.

“Oh how low, to be put in the same category as a Weasley,” Draco moaned and then grinned back.

Turning serious once again, Harry frowned slightly. “Why would they think that, Draco? And do you think Severus feels the same way?”

“I don't know what Uncle Sev thinks, but I think they think we are a couple,” here Draco blushed slightly, “Because of how comfortable we are with each other.”

“You mean how I always lean against you and the fact that, more often than not, I fall asleep better if you are sharing a bed with me?”

“Yes, exactly. I believe that the others in the house at the moment think the same.”

Standing in one fluid movement, a hard look developed in Harry's eyes. “Then we'll just have to explain things to them,” he stated, and walked off.

‘This is not going to turn out well,’ Draco groaned to himself, and followed after Harry.

~~hp~~

Harry found Ron, Hermione and the three adults sitting uncomfortably at the breakfast table, attempting to eat. It seemed, as Harry scanned the table, that even Ron was having problems eating with people that he had considered evil just the day before.

Clearing his throat to get everyone's attention, he ignored the smiles of welcome and settled a glare that included everyone. “It has come to my attention that once again those I feel are important to me are drawing conclusions and coming up with the wrong answers.”

“And what conclusion would that be?” Severus asked, setting his utensils neatly beside his plate.

“That Draco and I are a couple!”

Severus was silent for a moment before he answered slowly. “You mean to say that you are not?”

Harry turned disbelieving eyes on his father. “You believed it as well?” he asked sadly.

Hermione was watching him with a slight frown on her face. “But Harry, last night…” she trailed off.

“Hermione, do you know how many times I’ve ended up in Ron's bed after a nightmare, when I just can't stand to be alone? Last night I was already having problems breathing, and his body heat as well as being slightly inclined allowed me to sleep.”

“Be that as it may, youngling, I've seen the signs before, and as soon as you accept the fact that you are perfect for each other, the better off you will be,” Eve said while rearranging the fruit on her plate.

Bitterness twisted Harry's face into a scowl, and he could once again feel the panic welling up inside of him as he looked around and saw that both Lucius and Severus agreed with her. “So I'm to bow down to your superior insight, and ignore that little bit of something inside of me that says that this is wrong, and that there is truly someone out there for me, just because you say so?” he asked, his voice gaining a dead quality to it.

Severus looked up in alarm, and saw just how his grandmother's words had affected his son. Playing them over in his head, he knew just where they had gone wrong. Seeing his grandmother about to respond, he tried to get her attention in order to stop her but she wasn't paying him or anyone else any attention.

“Of course. You'll see; I'm very rarely wrong over this kind of things. Everything will work out for the best,” Eve replied brightly, only to look up sharply when she felt the Shadows raise up around them. Her eyes opened wide in astonishment when she saw the tears flowing down Harry's face, seconds before he Shimmered away.

Ron pushed himself away from the table and, exchanging a glance with Draco, joined him in glaring at those around them. “Well done, Lady Silverstar,” he snapped.

Silver eyes darkened to a stormy grey, Draco added his own opinion. “I am extremely glad that you said you were rarely wrong Lady Silverstar, because you are most definitely wrong this time.” Turning his gaze to Hermione, he added a sneer for effect. “I was under the impression that you at least knew better. I guess I was wrong.”

~~hp~~

Breakfast at Number 12, Grimmauld Place was once again a quiet affair. No one was really in the mood to joke around without knowing exactly how Harry was faring. And now, with both Ron and Hermione no longer with them, the rest of them were not sure how to act. Even Bill, who had joined them this morning for breakfast, didn't seem interested in his meal, and Weasleys could eat in the most difficult of situations.

Feeling the air pressure around him change, Remus figured it was Lady Silverstar coming back and continued to push his uneaten food around his plate and breathed in deeply, looking for her scent. Cocking his head to the side, when he caught a familiar scent laced with tears, he pushed his chair away from the table, just in time to brace himself when Harry flung himself around his neck.

Holding tight to the shivering, sobbing form in his arms, Remus tried to make sense of what was being said, while at the same time rubbing calming circles on his cub's back. “Shh, Harry, it's alright, I've got you. Take deep breaths for me. Come on, deep breath in, hold it, and let it out,” he continued to whisper. His sharp ears finally started to make sense of the babble.

“Can't breathe… Re—Pomfrey… medication,” Harry gasped out around the sobs he could just not stop.

Understanding lit in his eyes and he looked to Bill. “Go get Madam Pomfrey. Tell her it's an emergency.”

Before he had even finished, Bill was at the large fireplace and was throwing the Floo powder in, giving a brief explanation of what was going on, all the while keeping half of his attention on the two across the room, as Harry continued to try and follow Remus's advice on breathing.

It felt like forever, but was only a matter of minutes before a familiar spell flowed over Harry, easing his breathing. Going limp with relief, Harry buried his head in Remus's chest and continued to sob, although not as hard as before.

“Now that you have calmed down, would you care to explain to my satisfaction the reason you are here instead of at the Manor?” Poppy demanded.

“He said that everyone thought… and I asked, and they agreed, but I don't feel that way… but she said… and they didn't care, and… and…” Harry babbled.

Remus started rocking back and forth, crooning soft words and trying to figure out what was going on. The commotion had everyone in the house gathering around them. “Shh, Harry, are you talking about Lady Eve?”

Nodding his head, Harry took a deep breath and looked up into golden eyes. “She tried to say that he was my Mate, but I don't feel that way about him at all. I tried to tell her that something was telling me someone else was for me, but she said that she was rarely wrong, and I just had to wait and see, and try to be happy about it.” Harry explained. “But I don't, Remus, he's not my mate, he's not. I know he's not. But she wouldn't listen, and I could feel what she was doing. She had it all figured out, everything. She was ordering my life and I didn't have any say in it at all. And the others just smiled and went with what she was saying.” No longer able to hold it in, Harry started to cry even harder, barely able to take a breath between sobs. The cool sensation of a spell flowed over him once more, but it only helped a little.

Remus's rage combined with the Wolf's and he snarled. The sound was repeated in one way or another by the others in the room, but Harry didn't notice the sounds. As the pressure inside his skull increased, he pulled himself away from the feeling of anger and fell to the floor, scrambling across it into a corner along the far wall. Curling up into a ball he held his head in his hands and rocking back in forth in agony. “It hurts… oh, please stop… It hurts,” he whimpered over and over.

Charlie, when he received the letter explaining what was going on with his family and adopted brother, had taken a leave of absence from the Dragon Reserve and had come to give his moral support. Now watching Harry curl up into a ball, he was glad that he did. Grabbing hold of his older brother, he dragged him towards Harry. “Bury your feelings and help him shield his mind,” he told him urgently.

Knowing right away what Charlie was saying, Bill put up his strongest shields and knelt down beside Harry. Grabbing hold of both of Harry's hands, he looked back and nodded at Charlie and felt a total barrier go up between them and the rest of the room. “Harry love, look at me. Charlie has it all blocked, doesn't that feel better now? If you let me, I can help you shield your mind so this doesn't happen again.” Bill kept talking until tear filled green eyes looked back at him, and, with a nod of consent, Bill slipped inside and showed Harry how to weave a flexible web around his mind, and taught him how to make it so he allowed what he wanted to feel in.

Charlie watched his brother for a few moments with satisfaction. Turning around to face the rest of the room, he locked his eyes with the Medi-witch. “I think, Madam, that you had better start explaining.”