Transition

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Transition By Firesword
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~ Chapter Twenty-five: People of the Vale ~

Later that Friday afternoon...

The quartet spent a great deal of time walking around Dancers' Vale, much to Draco's horror. However, the visit to the commercial area of the vale made the Slytherin forget about his aching soles and feet. Half of the shops they stopped at had very young shop assistants, who were rather overwhelmed when they saw that Harry Potter, the wizard who had triumphed over the Dark Lord, was strolling down the walkways with the much talked about teenager of the week. There was also a particular young man who had gotten peculiarly tongue-tied when Draco requested for a crystal windchimes that had caught his eye.

The assistant's reaction had made Harry a little apprehensive – and jealous. He stepped back to study Draco's profile and sighed, almost pensively. Even in a simple white shirt and black trousers – which was very tight indeed – Draco looked irresistible.

Fortunately for Harry, none of the middle-aged witches and wizards fawned over Draco or him. He was even more grateful that none of the witches showed him motherly concern, like the way Ron's mother did.

Fifteen minutes later, Draco pleaded to the three of them that he wanted to sit and rest his feet. They went to a nearby ice-cream parlor. While Harry and Draco stayed in the shade and ordered chocolate ice cream, Starkmind and Bluestone headed off to a shop not far away to get spools of threads.

Harry barely had one spoonful of ice cream in his mouth when Draco popped a question. "Did you notice anything funny about those witches back in the shop selling soap?"

"Yes; they were staring too much at your arse," Harry replied blandly. Draco kicked his foot from under the table.

"I'm serious, Harry."

"So was I."

Harry could only keep his expression blank for several seconds before erupting into chuckles. Draco glared at him before looking away in another direction, pouting slightly.

"They were whispering a lot, weren't they? And they looked anxious too," he answered meekly, then grinned when the Slytherin turned to glance back at him with a somewhat superior look.

"Finally, you're living up to the rumors I had heard about you," the latter said.

"Oh?"

"Those rumors that said you were observant, able to put two and two together – that sort of thing."

Harry snorted. "Huh – I think you got it all wrong, love. That's supposed to be Hermione. I don't usually realize things until they get to the point where I can't ignore them anymore."

"Ah ... that explains why you were ignorant of my looks most of the time."

"Why would I want to look your way if you're only intent on giving me that stupid sneer?" Harry asked quizzically.

"I don't always sneer at you, love. You would know if you had just sit back and look around you, instead of staring blankly at those Herbology books or worrying about someone trying to sneak from behind," Draco said seriously.

Harry froze with his spoon still in his mouth. The wizard seated opposite him looked at him intently and for some reason, butterflies exploded in his stomach and began to flutter about. Wait – I was only that edgy during my sixth year. He pulled the utensil out of his mouth with tremendous effort before chucking it into his uneaten ice cream.

"Did you also happen to be responsible for sending the paper plane over the history shelf?" he asked suddenly. Draco's sly smile indicated that Harry's assumption was correct. "Bloody hell, Draco. You spied on me?"

"It gave me something to do," Draco shrugged. "Anyway, you were sort of pleasant to look at."

Harry coughed, unsure of how he should react. If he remembered the way he looked then, he was definitely shabby.

"Your hair kept falling into your eye, and you looked as though you really hated your glasses. That Gryffindor tie of yours was hanging loosely about your neck, and you had rolled up your sleeves. Were you trying to show off your muscles?" Draco asked mischievously. "They definitely got my attention. I was somewhat surprised Snape didn't put you straight into detention when he passed your table. You looked nothing like a student at that time, you know."

Harry felt weak. He was still feeling rather flustered when Bluestone appeared with Starkmind.

"Are the two of you done?" Starkmind chirped and Harry was surprised at the wizard's enthusiasm. Something was up.

"Yes. Where to now?" Draco inquired.

"Hold on – dearheart, what time is it?" Bluestone asked Starkmind.

"A quarter past five."

"They should be here any minute now."

"Who?" Draco and Harry piped up at the same time.

Bluestone smiled and pointed directly at a pathway behind them. Harry stared unblinkingly at the trail and his eyes flared when the same group of horses that had escorted them to the vale two weeks ago appeared suddenly. The only difference was that a huge cart was attached to the horses and not a carriage.

"Hello." Harry watched as Bluestone greeted the leading stallions. In the sunlight, the young wizard noticed that the horses' eyes were not normal. They were cat-like and all had lavender-colored eyes. While he was busy examining the magnificent beasts, Bluestone and Starkmind placed the bags of groceries, fabrics, toiletries and other things, into one corner of the cart.

Harry barely noticed that he had taken several steps forward to take a closer look at one of them. The particular stallion he was looking at had a single silver thread braided into its mane. The creature snorted and shied away, but returned to stare at Harry with a pale violet eye.

Harry could not breathe; the horse was staring right into him and into his heart. For some unknown reason, he was certain that the stallion actually understood him, and understood why he was able to love Draco. It also knew of his loss – Sirius's absence from his life still pained him.

Then slowly, and unmistakably, the powerful animal nodded its head once.

"Harry?"

He looked up to find Draco with his hand outstretched and a concerned expression on the fair face. Harry smiled, grasped his lover's hand, and heaved himself up onto the cart. Starkmind sat on the driver's seat and the half-Veela started to lead the horses forward. Harry tried to shake the feeling that he had discovered something he should not have, but the image of the stallion's soul-piercing eye prevented it. Starkmind was right; they were not horses after all.

"Where are we going?" Draco asked the married couple. Starkmind said something in reply but Harry did not listen to the half-Veela.

"Harry." Bluestone had reached out and touched his fingers lightly. The uneasy feelings he had vanished instantly at the contact. He smiled gratefully and focused his attention to where they were going. They had left the commercial area, and they were heading in the direction of the woods. There was a lone oak tree standing sentry before the pines. The first thing that popped into his mind was that it acted as a landmark. He asked Starkmind about it, and somewhat to his surprise, he was right.

"Remember this tree carefully," Bluestone said. "This place is for the adventurous. There are plenty of grottos and hideaways in there."

"But they change quite often – so that couples don't keep going to the same spot and the chances of being intruded are lowered that way," Starkmind added.

"So ... anytime you want some place to have a quiet and private chat, the two of you can Apparate somewhere near this tree – but not beyond it."

Harry winced. "Okay. Thanks for the warning." He did not really want to imagine what could happen if someone Apparated right into a tree, when it was in the process of moving. Starkmind clucked and the horses began to move. A young couple emerged from the forest, appearing slightly mussed and out of breath. The wizard looked slightly embarrassed and the witch demurely cast her eyes on the ground.

"I hope you have told her parents that she's going out with you, Isaac," Starkmind called out as the cart passed the couple.

How curious, Harry thought. Draco crawled forward, picked his right arm up, and then sidled close. Harry's arm immediately went around Draco's slim waist, pulling the wizard close. His boyfriend rested on his shoulder and Harry kissed the soft silvery strands of hair.

He loved the feeling of holding someone in his arms, and it felt even more special when it was Draco. The sensation was different compared to what he felt when he held Luna or Starkmind. Whatever it was, he was home. A strange kind of peace enveloped him each time he and Draco were together like this. He looked down and saw that Draco was gazing up at him. Silver eyes watched him with peculiar intensity.

Draco raised his right hand; the hematite gem on his ring gleamed in the sunlight, and lightly caressed Harry's cheek. Harry felt, rather than saw, Bluestone turning away and pretending to find something interesting on the ground. Harry smiled and copied his boyfriend's gesture, and both started visibly. They chuckled; both were briefly electrocuted when his fingers touched Draco's cheek.

It was as though he was in a dream. He knew that he was going to regret his open display of affection later, but he could not stop himself. His fingers traced Draco's cheekbone and cupped the sharp chin. He tilted Draco's face gently and leaned forward to brush his lips against the other wizard's. His boyfriend shivered and opened his lips slightly, giving Harry the opportunity to slip his tongue in.

They kissed for several minutes before he pulled away, and rested his forehead against Draco's broad and bony one. That had been a very intense kiss and they panted quietly.

"I love you, Draco," Harry whispered.

"Love you too," Draco whispered back.

"Seems like they're getting on just fine." The new voice made the two young wizards look up at once. At first, Harry could only see a fountain of two odd beasts curled around each other. Then he finally saw his mentor, who was sitting indolently on the edge of the fountain. Elron Vine was grinning widely. Then Vine gestured at the twin buildings standing not far away from the path.

"Anyway Harry, this is my house. The somber-looking one belongs to Aran obviously," Harry's mentor informed them.

"Uh ... hello, sir," Harry replied belatedly.

Vine merely grinned and the wizard turned to Bluestone. "It's about time. Why don't you show them the centre? Aran's already there."

"That is what we planned to do."

"All right; I'll see you all later." Vine waved at them before turning to jog towards his house.

As the cart began to move, Harry asked, "Are we having a dinner date of some kind?" He cursed extensively when both Bluestone and Starkmind gave him winks. "All right, charming ones, what have the two of you been planning behind our backs?"

While Harry had gotten to his knees and was crawling towards the wide-eyed Veela with a threatening look on his face, Draco leaned back against the board. "I told you so," the Slytherin said smugly to himself.

~*~

Harry jumped out of the cart and stared up at the huge building. It was not merely a centre; it looked like a school.

"Muggle architecture," Draco observed.

"How can you tell?" Harry turned to look at the wizard standing close to him.

"It's simple – they don't look normal."

Harry rolled his eyes in sarcasm. "Whatever."

"I can feel magic though, from the basement especially," Draco said.

"That's where your mentor keeps his things. Most of the storerooms belong to him and he wards them very carefully," Starkmind replied to the young wizard's statement. "Harry – please don't try to sneak in ... or whatever. This man is not Snape, but he is greatly vicious. Don't mess around with him or his things."

"Is this one included?" Harry poked Draco on the waist.

"I'm not too sure about that," Starkmind replied blithely. "Why don't you do something to find out?"

They entered the main gate and stepped through the wide open doors of the school. There was a general office with an official-looking witch behind a panel of glass, but she broke into a smile when she saw them.

"Showing the new ones around?" she asked politely.

Starkmind nodded. "Harry, Draco, this is Ivy. She's an administrator here. Ivy, these are Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. They're going to start out as assistants in September."

"I've heard from Martha," Ivy said with a crooked smile. "Well," her eyes flickered over to Harry and Draco, "enjoy the tour and try not to get lost in the lower levels. The viper is in there and I don't think he is feeling cheerful today."

"Who is 'viper'?" Harry asked Starkmind in an undertone as they walked.

"Aran Reed," the half-Veela replied.

Harry looked around; the main hall – or foyer – was quite large and he noted from the ceiling that the main building was hexagonal in shape. Two huge blocks flanked the sides of the building, and there was a very huge pillar standing in the middle of the courtyard. It was connected to the main building and two other blocks with walkways at each level.

"Is that a staircase?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes it is," Starkmind replied with a nod. The group paused, giving the two young wizards the opportunity to look around. "This part," the half-Veela pointed at the hexagonal ceiling above their heads, "is where all the offices are."

Starkmind led them to a notice board where all the pictures of the staff were featured. The head of the centre was an old wizard named Fabian Greatoak. Harry was slightly surprised that they also had a disciplinary master. Harry was studying a picture of a witch named Martha West, who was in charge of History, Muggle Studies and Life Values, when Starkmind cleared his throat to gain their attention.

The head office, the offices of Reed, Vine and the discipline master were situated on the ground floor, opposite the assembly room. They walked towards the tall pillar and entered the archway, before ascended the spiraling stairway. Harry and Draco visited the second-floor offices. Both felt vaguely embarrassed – but pleased at the same time – when they found out that they would be sharing a very spacious office.

"Very nice," Draco complimented, as he studied their name plaques.

Harry noticed that there was a blank plaque underneath a certain Julia Swarm. Bluestone replied to his unspoken question.

"We're still waiting for a replacement to replace the deputy discipline master," the Veela replied. "As for Julia Swarm, you won't bump into her that frequently – she's a nighttime teacher."

"Astronomy?" Harry hazarded. Bluestone nodded.

The school had seven levels in all, but the upper two levels were transformed into bedrooms for the children. However, Draco found it quite distasteful to have to climb up five flights of stairs should he happen to have a class at that level, since Apparating inside the school was prohibited.

They were heading back to the ground floor when a thought came across Harry's mind.

"This is where the orphaned children stay, right?" he asked and looked at Bluestone and Starkmind for confirmation. They nodded. "Then where are they?" Draco looked surprised at first, but his expression turned thoughtful before changing gradually into suspicion.

A string of curses gave the married couple an excuse not to answer his question. All four turned towards a nearly hidden staircase, and Draco's mentor, Aran Reed, stormed out of it. When he saw the quartet, his oaths died immediately and he pulled a watch from his pocket.

"Where did the time go?" Reed said to no one in particular. "Malfoy," the somber-faced wizard inclined his head at Draco in greeting.

"Sir," Draco responded just as calmly.

Reed turned to Harry, his face still grave as he greeted the Gryffindor. Then the wizard tilted his head to a side to study his face.

"They do not have any idea about it, do they?" Reed asked the couple standing behind the young wizards. Harry did not turn to look over his shoulder. "Well, you had better make an appearance before the children decide to take this building apart stone by stone."

"Elaviel..." Harry began even as Starkmind linked an arm through his and started to drag the Gryffindor in the direction of the school field.

He did not know what to expect, but there was suddenly a huge group of people – old witches and wizards, the younger generation, babies to teenagers – waiting for them. It was as though an invisible curtain was drawn aside to reveal them.

"Welcome to Dancers' Vale!" the crowd cheered just as a clock somewhere struck seven.

~*~

"Would you like some more pumpkin juice, dear?" the witch named Martha West asked Draco.

"No thanks," Malfoy replied politely. Then he stepped to one side as a gaggle of youngsters came up to the gentle-looking witch and requested for more drinks. Draco could not help but smile as he watched the odd group, and was a little surprised at himself to feel a little affection for the tiny children.

The field was alight with lanterns floating above their heads. In a corner where most of the teenagers had gathered, a band was playing music. Draco found that the tunes they played were very catchy, and could not help but move slightly with the rhythm. Along one side of the field, huge oak benches were covered with trays of food. Those that weren't, had people sitting on them as they ate and chatted. Draco's eyes went back to focus on the group and Martha, who was trying her best to deal with their demands.

There was a small girl wearing a blue overall hovering slightly behind the group. She was looking curiously at Draco with her huge brown eyes. Then she squealed when one of the larger boys accidentally bumped into her and caused her to fall on her knees.

"Sorry, Cheese. Didn't see you there," the boy apologized and pulled her up, then started to help brush the dirt away from her knees.

"It's okay," the little girl said, smiling up at the helpful boy. The group moved off and the girl resumed her study of Draco Malfoy.

Draco felt slightly nervous with the way the little girl was staring at him so he made a quick decision to approach her directly. "Your name is Cheese?" he asked her.

"No, that's what they like to call me – because I like cheese. My name is Cherrie. You are Draco Malfoy."

"I see. Well, hello, Cherrie," Draco said, then paused awkwardly. "Why are you staring at me?"

"You're nice to look at," the girl said honestly. "Why are you..." She stopped, frowning as though she was having difficulty finding the right words. "Why are you alone?" she said, finally.

"I was just resting. One can get very thirsty if one talks too much," he answered with a slight smile.

"Oh." Cherrie gave him that peculiar stare once more and Draco wondered if the girl was related to Luna Lovegood. "Are you a Death Eater? Some of the boys said that your father was one."

"The boys are correct, I guess. My father was. But I'm not," he said in quiet voice. In an unconscious gesture, his eyes sought for Harry. He saw his lover kneeling on one leg on an empty turf, surrounded by a group of toddlers. The Gryffindor was doing something; Draco wasn't sure what exactly, but then there was a bright gold flash, and accompanied quickly by an excited trill of laughter.

Draco chuckled at the obvious joy on the children's faces. Harry had conjured a half dozen miniature phoenixes, and the children were running about the field trying to catch them.

"Are you and Harry Potter like Professors Starkmind and Velera?" the girl piped up.

Draco blinked at the unfamiliar name. "Velera?" he repeated.

"The teacher who had dragged you just now," Cherrie said impatiently.

"Oh, Bluestone." Then Draco realized what the girl had just said. "Wait – how did you–"

"Your eyes ... went soft? Professor Starkmind looks like that every time he and Professor Velera meet in the hall for meals."

Draco stared at Cherrie in disbelief. "Just how old are you?" he queried in a slightly strained voice.

"I'm eleven."

"You're lying."

"I'm not. I'm eleven. I'm just very small."

Draco gazed at the girl skeptically, and she gave him an equally expressionless face.

"What will you be teaching? You are a teacher, right?" Cherrie asked.

"Potions. I'm helping Professor Reed."

"Potions? Yuck. I hate Potions."

"Why?" Draco questioned her, not knowing what else to ask the girl.

"Because my clothes always gets messed up and then Professor Kanic will scold me when I come to his class. Sometimes, he even scolds Professor Reed," Cherrie replied and came to stand beside him. Draco noticed that she barely reached his stomach.

Merlin ... but she is so small....

"You need to practice a lot. And Potions can be fun too," he told the girl with a winsome smile. "Do you like to bake?"

"Yes.' The girl nodded her head excitedly.

"Potions is not that dissimilar to baking or cooking. And Potions can be very useful sometimes," he said and continued before Cherrie could ask him why. "You see – you can brew potions to make someone feel better. For headaches, burns – that sort of thing."

"But potions can also poison people," Cherie said, scowling slightly.

"Yes, I'm afraid that is also true." Draco lifted his eyes and gazed up at the clear night sky. "I think it all depends on the nature of a person."

"Cherrie! Cherrie!" A group of young girls was running towards him and his young companion. "Quick! Quick! He is going to conjure a Patronus!"

Draco heard the small girl take a sharp breath. "I have to go!" she said breathlessly and then she was off. The group of girls turned and ran back in Harry's direction.

The platinum-blond wizard looked dreamily out into the field, unaware that Starkmind was approaching him from behind. Someone caught his attention then – a dark-haired wizard standing alone beside a park bench. He looked to be about a few years senior than Draco, and he was quite attractive. What made the Slytherin uneasy was the fact that the wizard was staring avidly at Harry, who was still busy entertaining the children of the Vale.

The brief tap on his shoulder made him jump slightly.

"How are you doing?" the half-Veela asked before sipping from his cup.

"Okay, I guess. The people around here are much more calmer than I'd expected," Draco replied. "Elaviel, who's that?" However, the wizard he had been studying earlier was gone. Was it just my imagination?

"Who's who?" Starkmind looked about curiously.

"I don't know ... he was standing there a few seconds ago."

They stood beside each other and watched the people about them in awkward silence.

"Draco, may I ask you something?" his ex-teacher asked hesitantly. Draco nodded, watching Starkmind calmly. "Are you ... hurt?"

"Hurt?"

"You know – well, that Harry and I – we used – you do know we were lovers, right?" Starkmind said, his face anxious.

"Yes, I know. You passed on some interesting skills to him," Draco responded, his grey eyes twinkling mischievously. Then he grew serious mercurially. "Elaviel, I hope you won't try to renew your relationship with him."

"I understand, Draco, and thank you for being honest. I do still love Harry, but I know that it wouldn't be fair to the three of you if I try to do anything funny." Starkmind smiled. "Merlin ... I feel better with the truth out in the open."

Draco nodded. "I think I should go back into the crowd. Those witches are crowding in too near to Harry." He started to walk away, then paused. He turned back, and Starkmind tilted his head to one side, looking at him inquiringly. "Well, I thought I should inform you that at least one of the students caught you giving moon-eyes to Bluestone."

"What?" Starkmind choked on his juice, and stared at him in surprise.

"Just thought you should know." Draco grinned maniacally and trotted off to steal Harry.

~*~