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Bearing the Light	By : Vergnugen Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 4938 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Bearing the Light
- 2-1
- 3-2
- 4-3
- 5-4
- 6-5
- 3
- 4
- 5
�Naimh! She�s alive.�

He opened his mouth to greet her, but his throat closed around the words, tightening, threatening to choke him. Apparently Naimh was having a similar problem because her hand twitched up, reaching toward her throat before she mastered the impulse and forced her hand back to her side. Apparently they were still under compulsion not to reveal themselves before anyone outside of the Institute.

His girl stared at him for a heartbeat in shock before her face slid back into a bossy expression. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, flicking her fingers in a rapid pattern that was hidden from the other boys behind her fall of bushy hair.

�We need to talk.�

�We already told him we haven�t seen it,� said Ron, referring to the missing toad, but the girl wasn�t listening, she was waiting for Harry�s response. He darted a quick glance between the two other boys and gave a tiny shake of his head. He pushed his glasses more firmly up his nose in an old sign they used to use in Training.

�Later.�

She nodded almost imperceptibly and shifted her attention to the red head boy and the wand in his hand.

�Oh are you going to do magic? Let�s see it, then.� She sat down expectantly. The other boy cleared his throat and began to chant a child�s rhyme about daisy yellow rats. Harry felt Niamh�s eyes linger on him, and he shifted his attention from his companion to her face, hungrily taking in the changes the time apart had brought.

His girl was softer than she had been before. You could tell that she had lost most of the guardedness that she had built up while living in fear of her life. Her face appeared much more open, except there was still a darkness in her gaze that only someone who was looking for it would recognize. The Mark of the Light.

The rat in Ron�s lap stayed sleeping and very dull gray.

�Are you quite sure that�s a real spell?� Naimh asked. She began talking about trying out some spells. He let the words wash over him, happy to just hear her voice again. �-I�m Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?�

Harry snapped to attention at that. Hermione Granger. She was alive and that was her real name. He�d never asked before what her name was, asking her if she remembered it was dangerous enough, and while he was Her Boy, he�d never aspired to being her Keeper. Now that he knew he�d be able to keep track of her once they were back in their own world. The thought made him smile.

�I�m Ron Weasley,� Ron muttered.

�Harry Potter,� Harry answered. She�d be able to keep track of him too now. In fact she�d be much better at keeping in contact than he would be.

�Are you really? I know all about you of course- I got a few extra books for background reading-� Harry listened in amazement as she spouted off a number of titles to books that apparently referenced him. He learned more about where to get more information he was going to need in one sentence than he had in several hours with Hagrid and Ron. He had to suppress a grin at how casually she dropped him important resources. But then gathering and passing along information had always been her forte.

She continued to chatter on for another moment about what she�d heard of the different houses until she seemed to remember that she was supposed to be helping the toad boy, Neville find the missing amphibian. Eventually she got up to leave, casting one small look back over her shoulder at Harry. He hoped the redhead boy in the seat across from him didn�t notice it, but he decided that if he had it could easily be explained away as fascination with the �Boy-Who-Lived�.

�Whatever house I�m in, I hope she�s not in it,� Ron muttered crankily, throwing his wand back into his trunk. He grumbled about his brother�s giving him a dud spell, and Harry decided to change the subject before he could work himself up, as the boy seemed prone to do.

�What house are your brothers in?�

�Gryffindor,� Ron responded, gloom seeming to settle upon once more. Listening to the boy brood about being the last son of the family, Harry realized there was nothing he could really do to make the other boy less moody. It was just going to be one of those things. With that, Harry decided that he was going to see if he could find Naimh-Hermione Granger, she said her name was Hermione Granger- and find a way to speak to her without anyone else hearing them.

�Hey Ron, I�m going to going to the restroom,� he broke in to cut the boy off. �Could you do me a favor and guard the candy while I�m gone. Oh and you can finish off the frogs, just make sure you save me some pumpkin pasties okay?�

�Sure thing Harry. I�ll keep the cards I already have for you too,� Ron agreed. Harry slipped through the compartment door. A hand caught the door before it could close, and a red head peeked through the opening. �Hey could you find out how long it�ll be before we get there while you�re up?�

Harry waved in acknowledgement that he�d heard and kept walking. Finally he heard the voice he was looking for and followed it to the source. There was Naimh-Hermione and Neville standing in the middle of the corridor, talking. The way they were standing put Neville�s back to Harry and Hermione was standing in front of the round faced boy.

�Cheer up Neville. We�ve still got some time before we arrive at the school. We�ll make one more sweep of the train okay?�

She caught sight of Harry over Neville�s shoulder. Harry walked past them casually. �This time we�ll split up so we can take the train faster. You go back that way and I�ll take this side, and we�ll meet back here when we finish looking.�

�Okay. Thank you Hermione!� the boy, Neville muttered gratefully.

�No problem. But you better hurry. We have some time but not a whole lot before we arrive.�

�Okay, I�ll meet you here.� With that Neville trotted back the direction that Harry had come from. Hermione turned and strolled in the same direction that Harry was walking in until she caught up with him.

�It has been a while my Hades.�

�Too long. I thought you were dead,� he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

�No. The cops came and I was returned to my family.� She hesitated a second. �Elder died in the fire though.�

�Finally Cleansed completely, huh?� Harry mused.

�Yes,� she agreed sadly.

Graduating to B-class and being Named was important at the Institute. Your Sponsor gave you a name that suited your skills, suited the personality that they would cultivate. As soon as you were Named your training for B-Class became specialized, designed specifically for you by your Sponsor. The two of them had managed to catch the eye of the same Chosen, and his name was Elder. It was an oddity that they had the same Sponsor. This was not only because most Sponsors focused exclusively on one protégé Student, shaping them into the perfect tool for the area they were being Trained for. It was also odd because Elder had been one of the few �Exceptions� allowed at the Institute.

Born with impure blood in his veins, Elder had been taken to the Institute as a child, where he was trained to reject the Vampire instincts. He was allowed to stay at the Institute because he underwent a daily Cleansing, a specialized UV treatment that burned up the Vampire cells, allowing him to function within the Compound as a human. When the cells regenerated enough that his Vampire traits became visible he was Cleansed again. Harry wondered if being caught in the fire had been a relief for the half blood. He hoped so.

The silence stretched painfully thin, both caught up in thoughts of their beloved teacher.

�So why did you agree to come?� his girl asked.

�Mostly curiosity. It�s not like I had anywhere better to be,� Harry shrugged.

�You know you�re famous here right?� she pointed out, rather needlessly he felt. But he remembered that she used obvious statements to lead her to point, so he didn�t comment on it.

�So I�ve gathered,� he agreed dryly.

�They�ll expect so much of you without even understanding what you are,� Hermione muttered worriedly.

Harry made a noise of agreement. �I�ve already thought of that. I�m trying to figure out how to behave once I get there.�

�Well they expect a hero, so probably nice and protective. But they want you to be willing to save them if Voldemort or his followers try to rise again.�

�So slightly stupid as well?� He guessed with a smirk.

�Slightly stupid could work for you.�

�It�ll be easier for me to be stupid if I have a terribly bright friend helping me out.� When he spoke he put a heavy emphasis on the word �bright�.

She scowled at him. �Very punny.�

He grinned.

It was surprising how easily they fell into their old roles. For a second it was almost like they hadn�t been separated for the past couple of years. He always had fun teasing her about the name Elder had given her. It suited her though. Pronounced Neeve, the name Naimh meant Bright in Gaelic. She was very bright; not only intelligent but she also held such an Inner Light that never once dulled, even during the most painful times they had shared.

He grew serious. �But we can�t be friends already when we come to school. People will wonder why we seem so close and start asking questions that we won�t be able to answer.�

�Is that why you didn�t want to greet me in front of that boy?�

�Of course. He�s very curious, and he doesn�t hesitate to ask what ever question comes to mind. We need a way to become friends at school that no one will question.�

�How about this then. I will hover over you and Red, and when my superior brain power saves you the two of you can join me as my bumbling subordinates.�

�I don�t bumble for anyone. Besides, as the famous one, it�s more likely that you will be my brilliant guide,� he protested mildly.

�And he�ll be what? Your second in command?� The girl scoffed.

�Yes, that�s probably what he will be seen as. But he�s not that bad. Ignoring the slight mood imbalance, he seems nice. Once he stops being so defensive about his background I�m sure he�ll be a very good...� he hesitated here, trying to think of a word.

�Sidekick?� Hermione suggested archly. Clearly the youngest Weasley boy hadn�t impressed her and Harry wasn�t sure he could see himself being as close to or trusting the other boy as much as the word �friend� seemed to suggest. Not because the other boy wouldn�t be a good friend but because it wasn�t a concept he was comfortable with just yet.

�Comrade,� he corrected firmly. �But yes. We can become �friends� later.�

�We shouldn�t be seen together too much right now then. I�m going to look for the toad.�

�Good luck with that my girl.� And with that the two parted.

He spoke briefly with the conductor at the front of the train. Hearing that they were going to be stopping soon he hurried back to the compartment he shared with the red head boy. As he made his way back he noticed some kids running down the hall and starting to fuss. Rolling his eyes he slipped through the sliding doors and plopped down across from Ron.

�Harry! Finally! You missed it, there was this nasty bully of a boy who came by to see if you were in this compartment. His friend was going to take some candy, but Scabbers here bit him. It�s a good thing we stayed behind, we saved the candy!� the boy announced proudly.

Harry laughed at that. �Well done Ron. We�re almost to Hogwarts. We should change into our robes.�

Together the two of them trooped out the door into the swarm of other students rushing to get off the train. Carried along by the tide of bodies there was no mistaking the giant voice booming out �Firs years over here!�

Harry lead Ron over toward Hagrid. Harry was relieved to see another familiar face in the crowd. At the giant�s direction the two clambered into the little boats. They ended up in a boat with Neville, who was still missing his toad, and of course, Hermione. Eventually the boats reached a sort of underground harbor. They were all clambering out onto rocks and pebbles when Hagrid stumbled across the elusive toad, which he promptly returned to its owner.

�Trevor!� Neville cried happily, hands grasping the toad firmly.

Harry watched the reunion with amusement. So much drama. Certainly Trevor was very good at keeping them occupied. Finally they were shuffled up a set of stone stairs that led to a giant door. Hagrid banged his large fist against the ancient looking wood. The door swung open.

Standing there was a tall woman in emerald green robes, with black her hair pulled back into a severe bun. Seeing her Harry immediately recognized her as an Instructor for the school of Hogwarts.

�The firs� years Professor McGonagall,� Hagrid waved a meaty hand in introduction.

�Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here.�

They followed this Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor of the entrance hall. Harry stared around with interest as the other students were allowing themselves to do as they walked. Stone walls lit with torches similar to the ones he�d seen in Gringotts. There was a beautiful marble staircase that swept from the entrance hall up toward the higher levels of the castle. The door to the right muffled what had to be the voices of hundreds of people, leading Harry to conclude that everyone attending the school was already gathered. But they didn�t walk through that door, instead they were led to a small empty chamber off the hall where they were to wait

�Welcome to Hogwarts,� Professor McGonagall announced. She gave a brief overview of the different houses of Hogwarts and told them that they were about to be Sorted into either Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. The houses would be treated like your family and you would spend most of your time with the members of your respective house. Soon she left them standing in a small room outside of what he assumed to be a dining hall from what he had gathered of the Sorting Feast.

But Harry wasn�t interested in that, he was too busy staring at the ghosts that seemed to be arguing over someone named Peeves. He had seen so many people die before, had any of them become ghosts? No, because they were able to see these ghosts. But, if something of the dead could linger, then what happened to all of the dead students who had been brutally murdered at the Institute? He shivered at the thought. Suddenly he was as uneasy as the other students seemed, although for a completely different reason.

Finally they were led to the Great Hall where they stood in a line, Harry was behind a sandy haired boy, but in front of Ron Weasley. Several students began to murmur in awe as they walked through the heavy wooden doors to the Great Hall. Avoiding the gazes from the tables of students around them Harry stared up at the ceiling. Twinkling stars spiraled across a velvet black sky.

Harry nodded slightly in acknowledgement when his girl explained that she had read about the enchanted ceiling in Hogwarts a History, that it was designed to reflect the weather outside. It explained the arch supports to the columns that wouldn�t be necessary, or terribly aesthetic, come to that, if there really was no ceiling. The line of students stopped in front of a small four legged stool that was occupied by an ancient and rather ratty old hat. Following the expectant gaze of everyone else in the room Harry turned his attention to the old hat as well.

Harry raised a startled brow when a moment later a wide rip near the brim of the hat opened and the hat began to sing.

�Oh you may not think me pretty,

But don�t judge on what you see,

I�ll eat myself if you can find

a smarter hat than me��

So that�s how they determined the placement of their students? Harry listened carefully as the hat described the qualities of its houses. No wonder no one trusted the Slytherins, very people could appreciate cunning or ambition. And poor Hufflepuff house. Loyal and hardworking are not exactly what everyone aspires to be considered. Ron was grumbling about his brothers tricking him. Something about wrestling a troll, but he wasn�t really paying any attention. He shared a disturbed glance with Hermione. How exactly was hat going to determine their personality the way it was claiming?

Several names were called, each sorted into their respective houses; Hannah Abbot, Suzan Bones, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger. He snapped to attention at her name, waiting to see where she would be placed. The minutes dragged by and finally the hat shouted his answer.

�Gryffindor!�

Then that was where he would need to go. It was necessary that he have access to her in order for them to �meet� each other and become friends. He watched as Draco Malfoy strutted over to be sorted into Slytherin.

�Harry Potter!�

Finally it was his turn to put the ratty looking hat on his head. Wild whispers rose in waves all around him, crashing over him as he made his way to sit on the stool. His last sight of the hall was of everyone staring at him curiously before the hat fell over his eyes, leaving him to stare at the black inside of the hat.

He waited. There was silence, deafening silence within the cover of the Sorting Hat.

�You�re the second one this night.� A small voice said in his ear at last. For a hat, it�s voice seemed oddly strained.

�The second one?� Harry asked mentally, politely.

�There are parts of your mind that are closed to me. I do not think it wise to push against those barriers to find out where you truly belong. I hope you don�t object that I will limit myself to judging you on what I find readily available to myself?- Ah, I see you�ve already made a choice on where you want to be, but that may not be the best place for you,� the Sorting Hat warned him.

�Where would you place me then?� Harry wondered curiously.

�Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There�s talent, oh my goodness yes- and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that�s interesting�. So where shall I put you?�

�Uh, in Gryffindor with Hermione would be fine,� Harry pointed out, going with his own choice. He gripped the edge of the seat, nervous that he wouldn�t be allowed a say in this.

�Gryffindor, eh?� said the small voice in his ear. �Are you sure? You could be great you know, it�s all there in your head, and Slytherin would help you on your way to greatness, no doubt about that��

Slytherin? Unacceptable. That was about as far away from Gryffindor as could be. Better to be in Ravenclaw, where at least he�d have an excuse to hang out with Hermione outside of Training periods.

�You know a lot, don�t you ? Tell me, do you know how flammable magical leather hats are because if you try to separate me from my girl we will find out,� he answered back flatly.

�� GRYFFINDOR!�

Harry stood up to place the hat back on the stool.

�Sorry �bout that,� he whispered quietly.

�Slytherin is your true home,� the Hat muttered back just as quietly.

�I know. Thank you.�

Harry walked to the table, amongst loud cheers. The twins Fred and George were calling out, �We got Potter!� And the older Weasley son, Percy from what Ron had been saying made a big show out of shaking his hand. Harry slid into his spot, making sure that he got the spot directly across from Hermione. She smiled at him before turning her attention back to the Sorting.

He caught the eye of the blond from Madam Malkin�s Robes for All Occasions through the students at the other tables. Harry grinned at him, inexplicably pleased that they had both gotten sorted into the house they had wanted. The boy, Draco, seemed torn for a second.

Then he smirked right back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I'm aware of the fact that I do need a beta, but I'm afraid that won't happen until the end of the story. I meant it when I said I have a short attention span- coupled with the jobs I work and the classes I attend- stories tend to die. I have to finish this before I let myself get bogged down in details, and I'd rather not waste time defending why I chose to format a sentence until I know the story will get finished. That is why reviews are so important to me, because it lets me know that people are interested, and that is the only reaon I haven't wandered off yet. So thank you everyone who reviewed, even though I don't seem like I'm paying attention to your comments at the moment I am keeping them in mind as I write.
So on that cheery note- a general overhaul with a beta and everything will happen in the event of this story's completion. Reviews and suggestions are always welcome.
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Bearing the Light