Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I'm not making any money for this, I'm just writing for fun.

Rating: R

Word count: about 2,700

Pairing: Blaise/Harry

Warnings/classifications: abuse of Celtic mythology, slash, UST (lots of it) and some RST.

Summary: On his quest to destroy the Horcruxes, Harry ends up in a whole different world.

Author's notes: Um. If you really like Celtic mythology, you might want to skip this. I sort of... butchered the myths, I fear. There's a grain of truth in it, but I mixed up the characters and stuff really badly to make it fit in better. Ah well... it's not like I hadn't done so already in the previous chapters. Heh.

Thanks to Silver Tears 11, puresilver and Shadow Bete Noire for reviewing chapter 7! I'm happy you liked it.

XxX

The next morning had been kind of awkward, Harry reflected. Zabini had already been up and about when Harry'd woken up, and apart from some meaningless conversation neither of them had spoken on the way to the great hall for lunch - they'd missed breakfast.

Before, there had been one constant: Zabini trying to make him miserable. Now that constant seemed gone, Harry felt... lost.

He looked up from the bread he'd been toying with for the past few minutes. His eyes met Zabini's and they both looked away. This procedure repeated a couple of times, until Harry couldn't stand it anymore. He opened his mouth to speak, "I -", at the same moment Zabini began, "So..."

Eventually Zabini finished his sentence. "So... What would you like to do on your last day here?"

Harry shrugged, feeling self-conscious. "I don't know. As long as it doesn't involve horses, it's fine with me, I guess."

Zabini had the grace to look vaguely ashamed at that. And for good reason, Harry thought, mentally scowling. That horse had been terrible.

"We could go for a walk? No horses involved, and the weather seems good."

"Sure," Harry said, shrugging again.

XxX

And thus, an hour later, they were well on their way. Zabini had again said nothing, except to point out various interesting or not so interesting things.

After another half an hour or so, Harry couldn't take it anymore. He halted abruptly, causing Zabini to turn around and give him a questioning look.

"I can't do this."

"What?" Zabini asked, puzzled.

Harry gestured vaguely with his hands. "This. Pretending nothing has happened."

The Slytherin furrowed his brow in annoyance. "Well, what do you want me to do? Declare my undying love for you? A-"

"No!" Harry exclaimed, fighting an embarrassed blush.

Zabini regarded him for a moment, his expression inscrutable. He then shook his head - Harry thought he saw a flicker of amusement in his dark eyes - and said, "You're such a girl sometimes, Potter."

Any indignant reply Harry might have wanted to voice was forgotten as Zabini closed the distance between them and proceeded to kiss him breathless.

"Better?" Zabini asked with a smirk.

Harry could do nothing for a moment but stare. "I... yes! I mean, no! I mean..."

The Slytherin snickered. "Come on," he said, giving Harry's tunic a tug.

Harry shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, and followed Zabini deeper into the forest.

XxX

"You know anything about Celtic mythology?" Blaise inquired.

"Not really," Potter replied, shrugging. "It never really interested me. But then again, I had no idea this world -" he gestured around him, "- was real, back then."

"Have you heard of Balor the One-Eyed?" he asked. At Potter's negative he continued, "Balor was the king of the Fomoiri, one of the other races living in this world. Everyone who looked into his eye turned into stone. The Elves and the Fomoiri had been at war for ages. I've been told that the final battle, in which Lord Lugh defeated Balor was fought in the valley we're about to cross."

"And what happened after that?" Potter asked, intrigued.

"The Fomoiri fled to the north, and the empire of the Elves was safe. But Nuadu, who was king at that time, had lost his hand in battle and had to resign. A king can't have physical imperfections. Bres wanted to become king, but the Elven Lords chose Lugh. Bres was furious, but there was nothing he could do at that time. Rumour goes that he has vowed revenge and is just biding his time until opportunity presents itself."

"So that's why no one seems to trust him," Potter mused.

Blaise nodded. "That, and the nasty rumour that he's actually half-Fomoiri."

They came out of the forest, and saw a very normal looking grassy plane.

"Well, this is where it all happened. Or so they say," Blaise said with a shrug. "I suppose you could find old armour and stuff if you'd really look for it, but otherwise it's not very interesting here."

Potter 'hmm'ed.

They stood there for a while, side by side, in comfortable silence. Eventually Potter broke the silence. "When did this all happen? It really doesn't look like a battlefield anymore."

Blaise gave him a sideways glance. Potter obviously didn't realise how old most of the Elves were. "A few hundred years, maybe a thousand, I guess."

Potter's eyebrows flew upwards and his head snapped into Blaise's direction. "What?"

Blaise smiled. "They're not as young as they seem. Even Aonghus is more than a thousand years old." He nodded in the direction of the small stream meandering through the valley. "How about a break?"

XxX

"So, what do you actually do here? You know, usually?" Harry asked lazily, lying on his back on the soft grass near the water.

Zabini, who was also lying on the grass, about three feet away, gave him a brief look. "A bit of everything, really. Most of the time I worked with the Rune Master. He was very interested in our rune spells and taught me about theirs."

"Aren't they afraid you'll leave and take their spells with you?" Harry wondered, rolling onto his side to be able to look at Zabini without straining his neck.

The Slytherin shrugged, as far as that was possible while lying on his back. "I don't think they care what happens in our world," he said, sounding strangely forlorn.

"And do you?" Harry asked quietly.

Zabini was silent for a long time after that. Eventually he jumped up, saying, "We should go."

Harry shook his head, but got up regardless. What had he done now?

"It's going to rain within a few hours," the Slytherin clarified, indicating the dark clouds hanging above the far mountains.

"We'd better hurry, then," Harry said, resigned. He hadn't noticed the clouds until Zabini had pointed them out, but now that he had, he had to admit that they didn't look like it was just going to drizzle a bit.

XxX

That evening found them standing on the castle walls above the entrance gate again, just like the day Bres and his knights had arrived. They were leaning their elbows on the crenels, their arms almost touching.

"I'm going to miss this world," Potter said wistfully. "It's so... uncomplicated. No maniacal Dark Lords, no people looking at me to save them..."

Blaise glanced at him. "I'd say 'stay here', but I know what your answer would be."

Potter turned his head. "You want me to stay?"

"That's not what I said," he replied, looking away. "I'm just saying that it's, you know, possible."

"Hmm-mm." Potter didn't sound convinced, and did Blaise hear a chuckle in his voice? He gave Potter a good-natured shove.

"You soooo like me," the Gryffindor said in an annoyingly smug way.

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"...do you really want to waste your last night here like this?"

Potter looked a bit surprised at the sudden change of topic, but pulled himself back together fast enough. He raised his eyebrows. "Why? You have a better idea?" he asked innocently.

Blaise's reply went unheard over the sudden clatter of hoofs on the road between the first and second gate. The moment was broken when they both spun around and looked over the railing to see what the commotion was about. They were just in time to see the mysterious rider jump off his horse and start banging on the door of the castle.

After a minute or so, the door opened. A knight, his voice gruff, came out and the two exchanged some hushed words. The knight barked something at someone in the castle, at which a servant appeared and led the horse away. The rider and the knight entered the castle and closed the door behind them.

"What the hell was that about?"

Blaise shook his head. "I have no idea. Probably a messenger of some sorts."

"Right."

When nothing else happened for a few minutes, Potter coughed and grinned, "Now what did you say about wasting my last night here?"

XxX

As soon as Zabini had closed the door behind them, Harry pushed him up against it and kissed him, suddenly desperate for human contact in this world where no one even was of the same species as they were.

Zabini responded with equal intensity, one hand on the nape of Harry's neck, the other slowly moving upward under Harry's tunic.

A sudden knock on the door caused them to break apart.

"Maybe we should..." Harry began half-heartedly, but Zabini merely shrugged and said, "They'll come back if it's important," using the opportunity to pull Harry's tunic over his head and reversing their positions, now pushing Harry against the door.

Seconds later, Harry was too distracted by Zabini's tongue down his throat and hand down his trousers to notice anything else.

That was, until someone kicked the door open, which had both him and Zabini ending up sprawled across the floor.

Zabini hastily removed his hand and Harry scrambled to his feet, rubbing his head where it had come in contact with the door. He found himself face to face with a horrified Aonghus.

The Slytherin got to his feet as well and glared. "What?" he snarled.

"I..." Aonghus stuttered, his voice sounding strangled. "I'm sorry!" he exclaimed and rushed out of the door again.

Zabini rolled his eyes in annoyance, threw Harry his tunic and left the room.

Great. Where is a cold shower when you need one? Harry thought moodily. He sighed and put on his tunic, just in time before Aonghus re-entered the room.

The Elf started to talk in English, but after an apologetic glance at Harry, continued in rapid Elvish.

Zabini's expression changed from merely attentive to one of shocked disbelief.

"What did he say?" Harry asked tentatively, when Aonghus had left.

Zabini turned around, looking shaken. "He... The Fomoiri have declared war on the Elves," he said slowly, as if he had trouble believing it.

"What? But they... they were defeated, right? They fled!"

"Apparently an enormous army is marching south, leaving devastation in its wake. We have to leave for the cairn immediately. It might not be possible to leave the castle anymore in the morning."

XxX

"Can I talk to you for a moment, Blaise?" Aonghus asked, when he came back.

Blaise nodded and followed the Elf out of the room.

Despite the hour the hallway was swarming with people, who were discussing the declaration of war and its implications.

"I brought you some food for on the way," the Elf said, handing him a knapsack. As Blaise took it from him, he said urgently, "You must leave, too."

Blaise's head shot up. "What?" he exclaimed incredulously.

Aonghus grabbed his hand. "You have to. It is no longer safe for you here. You are different. And in wartime..." He sighed. "Well, people do strange things when they're scared. I'm sure that's the same in your world."

"But... I haven't repaid Lord Lugh's hospitality yet!"

The Elf forced Blaise to look him in the eyes. "This isn't your war."

"Aonghus, I..."

His friend's eyes pleaded him to listen. "There is nothing for you here, Blaise."

Blaise opened his mouth again. "I -" He couldn't deny that he missed his world - Potter's arrival here had made that painfully clear - but to be forced to leave so suddenly... He felt cornered.

"You're needed in your own world," Aonghus said quietly.

"What?"

"I caught a glimpse of your future," the Elf explained, looking everywhere but at his human friend. Blaise realised that Aonghus was probably not allowed to tell him about this. "Your future lies there, not here."

Their eyes met in a silent conversation.

This is all so sudden.

You have to go.

Blaise sighed and nodded in defeat. Okay.

Aonghus gave a small smile. "Thanks," he said softly, followed by a louder, "Come, let's get your stuff and leave, before they lock down the castle. I'll accompany you to the gate."

XxX

"Well, then this is goodbye," the Elf said as they were finally outside the castle walls. "It's been nice knowing you, Harry." He extended his hand. "You people shake hands on occasions like this, yes?"

Harry nodded and smiled. "We do. It was nice to meet you, too."

He was surprised when the Elf turned to Zabini next, his expression grave. "And you, Blaise." Zabini would be back here within a day!

Instead of shaking the Elf's hand, Zabini pulled him into a tight hug and whispered something in Elvish, his voice sounding strangely choked. The Elf smiled and whispered something back.

After pulling back, they exchanged some more words, and then Zabini abruptly turned around and started walking.

"Goodbye," Harry said, feeling a bit awkward, before following Zabini.

Zabini silently led the way, seemingly lost in thought.

It was night, but the moon was so bright that they didn't need additional lighting, at least not the first part of the road, which led through the fields.

It took almost an hour before Zabini spoke for the first time. "We're going through the forest. It's not safe to travel through the open planes," he said, as they reached the first trees. He drew a bright rune in the air, and led them into the woods.

Harry nodded and followed, wondering how much longer the journey would take. After that afternoon's long walk, he hoped the route through the woods wasn't too much longer than the one he'd taken when he had been brought to the castle.

They continued in silence, getting deeper and deeper into the forest. Harry was steadily getting more disoriented. The moon was invisible through the abundance of leaves above him; the only light came from the rune floating about a foot above their heads, so he lost all sense of direction and time. The silence was also starting to get on his nerves. So much, that when a startled squirrel squeaked and scurried off, he almost jumped.

Finally deciding that he'd had enough of the silence, he asked, "How long have you been here?"

Zabini shot him a quick look over his shoulder. "About two years, I think."

"When did you leave the... real world?"

"Right after the seventh year," Zabini replied.

"Oh." In his world, almost four years had passed since then, which would mean that during his stay here, about two weeks would have passed in the real world.

Zabini slowed down a bit, so that Harry could catch up with him. The Slytherin hesitated, then asked, "How much time has passed... there... since I left?"

"Four years," Harry replied, giving his companion a sideways glance, but not asking the question he wanted to ask.

They lapsed into silence again.

"Want something to eat?" Zabini suddenly asked.

Harry shook his head. "No, thanks. I'm fine."

"I'm leaving, too," the Slytherin said abruptly.

Harry gave Zabini a sharp look, and was promptly punished for his lack of attention by a particularly big root.

"That's... great," he said carefully, after he had regained his footing. "What made you change your mind?"

"I didn't. Aonghus forced me to," the Slytherin replied curtly.

"Oh."

XxX

As they stood in front of the cairn, Blaise was reminded of how he had arrived here, two years ago. He had come out of the cairn, his head hurting from the transit, and looked out over the valley.

At first he hadn't know if he had succeeded, but then he had seen the castle, its flag waving proudly from its tower. It had been then, that the guardian of the cairn had found him and taken him to the castle.

"Who of us goes first?" Potter asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"You go first," he replied. "I..." I want to say goodbye to this world.

Potter seemed to understand, for he nodded and began his three rounds around the cairn.

"See you on the other side," he said quietly, and crawled into the cairn.

Blaise looked around him, trying to take in as much of the surroundings as possible. He took a deep breath, and started to walk his three rounds.

After one last look at the moonlit castle on the hill, he crawled into the cairn.

There was a blinding flash of light, and then everything went black...

The End

XxX

This is the end of Starlight, but the story will (hopefully) be continued in Butterflies and Hurricanes:

Harry has returned from the Otherworld, more determined than ever to defeat Voldemort. But when Voldemort seems to have developed a new, special power, things get more complicated than Harry could have ever imagined. Only one person might be able to turn the tide, but can he be trusted? And will unresolved issues between him and Harry get in the way? Stay tuned for Butterflies and Hurricanes.

Thanks for reading!