Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Bound	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 126052 -:- Recommendations : 15 -:- Currently Reading : 31
Disclaimer: JK owns HP. Not me. I also don't own any quotes you might recognize. I make no money doing this, I just get the plot bunnies to quit interrupting my sleep.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Harry didn’t believe the ruse for a second but when he tried to tell Ron this, he found he couldn’t. The vow caused an uncomfortable squeezing in his throat. He made it to the infirmary just after first class. He had snuck in under his cloak and followed the sounds of popping.

Luckily, Draco and Hermione were just trying a control exercise when Harry popped out of thin air. He startled the two so bad that they accidentally set fire to one of the beds. Harry quickly put it out and repaired the bed.

“What are you doing here Potter?” Draco asked coldly.

“I was checking on my friend Malfoy.” Harry answered.

“Friend?” Hermione’s voice cracked. “I thought I was a traitor.”

Harry sighed heavily. “Hermione, can we please talk?”

She stared at him for a few minutes, deciding if she should push him away or try to work it out. On one hand, if they weren’t so close she could carry on with Draco and not have to worry about Harry prying. On the other hand, him being distant could prove it harder to feed him information and protect him if necessary. That didn’t even include the deep hurt she felt when she thought of not being close to her friend.

Feeling her indecision, Draco gave her a small nudge. “Go on Granger. Have your sickening heart to heart so we can get back to working on a cure.”

Hermione glared at Draco. “Don’t you ever push me again Malfoy. As soon as I find a cure, I’m going to hex you into the next century.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” Draco smirked.

She turned on her heel and marched across the infirmary while motioning for Harry to do the same. Draco pulled the privacy curtain around the bed and sat down heavily. He couldn’t afford for Potter to see his concern. He couldn’t handle her emotions when faced with her friend. They were ripping him to shreds. Although they were whispering all the way across the room, he could hear them clearly. Apparently, the enhanced hearing was going to be a permanent asset. It could prove very useful in the future. He listened in on the two Gryffindors.

“Talk fast Harry,” Hermione snapped.

“Hermione, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you but you know how much I hate it when things are kept from me.”

Hermione nodded and turned around. Harry went to turn her and her magic shocked him.

“Yeouch!” He yelped.

“Sorry,” she whimpered as she turned back toward him.

“It’s okay.” Harry said. “Hermione, I know you hate me right now.”

“I don’t hate you Harry. I’m just hurt that you would think so little of me.”

Harry’s ears burned in shame. “I would never think so little of you.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Hermione muttered. Draco stifled the urge to snort.

Harry sighed heavily. “Hermione, for what it’s worth, I truly am sorry. I promise I will never accuse you of going against me again. I just, I want to know if something is going on.”

It was Hermione’s turn to sigh heavily. “Harry, you are just going to have to get use to the fact that you aren’t going to know everything that is going on. Sometimes,” she paused, carefully choosing her words. “Sometimes, it’s best not to know everything. If you did, you’d go mad.”

Harry narrowed his eyes at her. “What do you mean, Hermione?”

“I mean,” she paused to decide the best way to explain. “Harry, have you ever seen how Molly worries over everyone?”

“Sure, she does it all the time.”

“Now, she worries because she vaguely knows what is going on by the hands on the clock right?”

“Yeah,” Harry answered slowly.

“And of course she worries for everyone’s safety anyway, right?”

“Uh huh.”

“Now, imagine that the twins were sent on a mission for Dumbledore. Let’s say that they were to get a scale from a dragon, a real life or death mission.”

Harry nodded.

“How much do you think she’d worry if she knew exactly what they were doing versus if she just knew that they were leaving the country for a while on a trip.”

Harry nodded. Mrs. Weasley would be beside herself is she knew exactly what was going on with Fred and George.

“Harry, what I’m going to say next might hurt a bit.”

Harry cocked his head sideways.

“What do you think would have happened if we didn’t go to the ministry that day?”

Harry’s face turned dark.

“Harry,” Hermione said gently. “We went because you just knew that Voldemort was torturing Sirius. I don’t blame you.” She said quickly, sensing Harry’s anger. “But just think about it. If you knew exactly what was happening to everyone all the time, would you be able to live with it? Could you handle the guilt of knowing and not being able to do anything about it? Or would you go in blindly again and risk your life on a mere chance to save one person? Think about it Harry,” she said softly.

Harry stared at her for what seemed like an eternity but she could see his thoughts whirring behind those emerald green eyes. She saw the self-loathing, the hatred, the pain, and the sadness. It broke her heart.

“Harry, in the end, we’ll all make sacrifices. I’m willing to risk it all to end this war. You don’t even have a choice. Just know that if someone is keeping something from you, they are doing it out of kindness. They don’t mean to hurt you, they just don’t want to add to your pain.” She sucked in a breath and turned from her childhood friend, trying desperately not to cry again.

Harry grabbed her in a bear hug, burying his nose in her bushy hair. He’d never even considered the thought that she was trying to ease his burden. She was right, though. If he’d known that she was dying, he would have been consumed by the worry. It was better to have not known, even though it hurt deeply.

“I can’t lose you Mione. You’re my family,” Harry breathed.

Hermione nodded and hugged him tightly. She knew he felt badly and she knew she was going to forgive him but her heart still ached. She couldn’t tell him what was going to happen. She was going to marry his enemy. She was giving up her right to choose; although now she knew she really didn’t have a choice to begin with. Fate had decided her destiny long before she was born. She’d never believed in fate before. However, she was starting to see that some things were just predetermined.

In that moment, with Harry holding on to her like a child clutching a teddy bear, she was at peace. She had finally gotten him to realize that some things were better left unknown although she didn’t know if he would take it to heart. She certainly wished she didn’t know as much. Perhaps he would understand when the time came to reveal everything.

She was ok with her upcoming marriage to Draco. He’d changed so much from the bully he used to be. He was kind to her and never pushed her physically further than she was comfortable with. He respected her and her feelings. He was a different person. He still had a wickedly sharp tongue and a huge ego but that was what made him who he was. If he had suddenly become a sap she didn’t think that she’d be so attracted to him.

Merlin was she attracted to him. He was a blond Adonis and he knew it. She loved to run her fingers over his abdomen and chest. The small silver scars and smooth lines of his defined abdomen never failed to make her stomach do flip-flops. His eyes always turned from their normal cool grey to shimmering liquid silver and she loved it. She loved how she could make him lose his cool. She felt powerful and sexy when he looked at her with those eyes. No, marriage wouldn’t be a hardship at all.

She blinked rapidly at that thought. Here she was, hugging her best friend and lusting after his enemy. What a predicament.

“Forgive me?” Harry asked timidly as he released her.

“Yes,” she said with a small smile.

Harry grinned, grabbed her, and swung her around again thanking her multiple times. Hermione stiffened in his arms and he immediately put her down, giving her a questioning look.

“Harry, you need to go before someone sees you here.” Hermione had sensed Snape coming and knew that if he caught Harry, there would be a world of trouble.

Harry nodded, slipped on his cloak, and darted out the door. As soon as the door shut, Draco lifted his arm and placed an alarm on the door to warn them when someone came in. Potter hadn’t seen anything untoward but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have.

The bond was pulling Draco strongly and it was hard to fight it. When he sensed the peace in Hermione, he relaxed. Then he sensed the lust and immediately became angered. He slipped quietly into her mind and discovered the lust was for him. He’d been hard ever since and was finding it quite uncomfortable.

Snape storming through the doors took him out of his musings. His normally solid onyx hair had an amusing platinum zebra striped pattern. One of his eyes was solid gray, the other retaining its ebony shade. He looked as mad as a wet kneezle.

Hermione quickly scuttled over to Draco as she hastily wiped her eyes. When she reached him, she noticed that he was focused on her face. Her thoughts from earlier returned and she blushed deeply. He smirked and pulled her into his chest, forgetting momentarily that his blood father was burning a hole through him with a glare.

“Do I need to bind you two to opposite walls before tonight,” he asked in a low voice.

The couple separated a bit and both shook their heads.

“Change of plans. You will be present at lunch. You will tell your friends that the cure has been administered and the effects will wear off by tomorrow. You are no longer contagious. There are too many rumors that need to be squashed to keep you here. The people who count,” he stressed the last word, “believe there to be some truth to your theme song. You two are the new Romeo and Juliet.”

At Draco’s questioning look, Hermione filled him in. “Romeo and Juliet was a play written by the famous muggle playwright William Shakespeare. That particular play was about two young people from feuding families who fell in love. They married in secret and then Romeo was banished for killing Juliet’s cousin in a duel. Juliet was going to be forced to marry and so she took a potion to make her appear dead and sent a letter to Romeo explaining everything. Romeo, missing her letter, thought she was truly dead and took a poison as he leaned over her lifeless body in her tomb. She awoke as he took his last breaths and killed herself, overcome with grief. It would be like a Death Eater marrying a muggle born from the Order of the Phoenix,” she said pointedly.

Draco’s eyes widened. It would be horrific if anyone were to discover their marriage.

“Be as vile to one another as possible while staying far enough away to keep your magic from reacting.” Snape continued. “The professors have been notified that you cannot perform magic in the vicinity of each other. During this class period, you will both go into the Forbidden Forest with me and expel as much magical energy as you possibly can. After that, you are expected to attend your classes. If you start losing control, seek me out immediately.”

Both students nodded dumbly.

“Miss Granger, you will still attend Slughorn’s party tonight.” Her face fell and he smirked. “Just make sure that dunderhead McLaggan keeps his hands to himself or you’re both in for a bout of pain. Go back to your houses by 8:45 and grab your things. You still have detention so report to my classroom by 9:00.” He sneered evilly.

“We will keep you in two separate areas of the castle until the ceremony. If you two can’t control your magic in the meantime, I might be able to place a dampening spell on you both but it won’t last long. It will have to be reapplied and it will be painful.”

Both nodded.

“Very well. Let’s go to the forest, under a disillusionment spell if you will.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lunchtime saw two very tired students dragging themselves into the Great Hall. They hardly had the energy to put one foot in front of the other. They had transformed every tree in a portion of the forbidden forest into ice sculptures in every shape imaginable. Then they melted them, reformed them, and turned them back into trees. It was the most tedious kind of magic, required more skill than most adult wizards had, and wore them down quicker than a straight duel, all without wands of course. Snape had worn a maniacal grin when he gave them their assignment.

During their time spent in the forest, they also had to place and hold a warming charm around them roughly the size of the area where the world quidditch cup was played. This made changing trees into ice even more precarious because each needed a freezing charm placed around it as well.

For a finale, they worked on occlumency. Snape had caught Hermione’s glazed look when Draco had changed a sculpture to look like himself almost nude, his assets were the only things covered. He also caught the smirk Draco gave after he closed his eyes. He’d obviously slipped into the girl’s mind when she’d had no knowledge of it. That needed to be stopped. Hermione was appalled to learn this, of course, and proceeded to hex two extra noses and an arm onto Draco’s groin. He’d chuckled cruelly while watching the boy try to rid himself of the extra appendages.

After the lessons were over, both Slytherins felt rather strange and sat down to rest a minute. It looked as if they had morphed into each other’s bodies. Hermione watched, wide-eyed as they morphed back. It was like witnessing someone under polyjuice. When they transformed back into themselves, she questioned her professor.

“I believe that was the majority of the magic settling. The changes should stop occurring randomly now. I believe anything that develops after this will be permanent.”

Draco paused a moment. “I can still hear extremely well, although it isn’t quite as sensitive as earlier.”

Snape nodded. “I doubt you will get any full attribute I may have and vice versa. However, subtle changes may be noticed. For example,” he pointed to his hair. It had lost its greasy texture and now fell in curtains so soft they looked like silk. There was one lone streak of platinum in it.

“Has there been anything else?” Snape asked Draco.

He nodded. He’d noticed it right after his features had changed back. He smiled widely and revealed fangs. They were very short but extremely pointed. To prove this, Draco scraped them across his bottom lip, which bled and then immediately healed.

Snape nodded. “It looks like you’ve also received the ability to heal quickly, although I fear it will only be for self-inflicted injuries. It’s a standard adaptation to the disease. Otherwise, your lips would be permanently scarred.”

Hermione couldn’t help but think he looked extremely sexy with them. In fact, she felt abnormally drawn to him, way beyond the normal pull of the bond.

“I think he has a bit of magnetism too sir.” Her voice wavered.

Draco smirked at her. “I think that’s a plus.”

Hermione blushed horribly.

“Not only Miss Granger will be affected.” Snape said shortly. “Until you learn to control it, you’ll have some very unwanted attention from the fairer sex and a few from the other side as well. I dare say Crabbe and Goyle will take a special interest in you.”

Draco blanched as Hermione giggled madly.

“Did you get anything else from me?” Draco asked.

“It seems as though I have received your youthful exuberance, which is more than enough to deal with.” Snape snapped. Draco read in between the lines. His godfather was experiencing teenage hormones, and therefore was extremely randy. That explained the song that morning.

Draco laughed heartily but stopped at the death glare that he received. Hermione blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes and turned to hide her embarrassment.

“Wait until she shares your attributes, son,” Snape sneered.

Draco cocked his head in question.

“You’ll find that the kind of marriage we will perform allows you to share any benefits between you. She’ll gain your newfound hearing, magnetism, and most likely a set of fangs for herself. I’m sure you two will have fun figuring out what to do with those.”

Hermione couldn’t take it anymore and walked deeper into the forest. She had been most curious about the professor’s malady and so had taken it upon herself to read up on it. There wasn’t much information on them, as daywalkers were very rare. Their fangs couldn’t turn a human, but bloodlust made it easy for them to drain them dry.

Daywalkers in essence were super human. The vampire traits that made them so dangerous were passed on but their drawbacks were negated with the essence of life. They could venture out during the day; none of the tools used to kill a vampire would work, save impalement, which would kill any mortal as well. However, the bloodlust made it very hard function normally. What control the professor must have. He didn’t need blood to function but she imagined the sight and smell of blood was intoxicating. How on earth had he survived service to the Dark Lord? It was common knowledge that the despot didn’t spare the rod, so to speak.

The fangs were another story entirely. What they did depended on the type of vampirism the daywalker was infected with. The professor’s type attracted their pray with sheer sexual magnetism. Therefore, bites resulted in extreme sexual gratification. What the book didn’t say could be inferred.

There was a bond formed when the professor drank a person’s blood. She and Ginny had discussed this at length when she found it hard to deal with the compulsion. The professor had specifically said that he couldn’t use his fangs. Could it be possible that using fangs created a sexual bond as well? It could also be possible that it was just a case of the fact that he couldn’t stop until he was full if he sunk his fangs into someone. The victim would then die of blood loss.

The professor had specifically stated that Draco wouldn’t have the bloodlust. However, it appeared he had the hearing and magnetism, not to mention fangs. Oh dear Merlin. What sort of feelings would those fangs evoke if they sank into her neck? The professor’s words came back to her and made her color again. Would they make the experience better?

Hermione couldn’t deny that she was terrified of her wedding night. Tonight. Although she’d never gone further than heavy make out sessions and that was with Draco, she’d read about the act and heard Lavander and Pravati prattle on about it non-stop. The first time hurt badly. Could she even relax to get to that point? She knew she and Draco shared an attraction for each other. The things just his eyes could do to her arousal made her weak in the knees. The thing that scared her is that even though she’d never laid eyes on Draco’s length, she’d felt it as he pulled her into him and it seemed much larger than it should be.

She knew she was starting to fall in love with him and she’d gotten over the fact that she didn’t get to choose. Even though she didn’t believe in divination, perhaps the fates really did make the best plans. Draco had already said that he would never get to marry for love. Did that mean he wasn’t willing to try? No, he said he’d do his best by her. He was attracted to her, that part was very evident. She sighed heavily. At least they were compatible. She found it hard to keep her hands off him when he kissed her and it was getting harder to break apart from him as well. Could she live her life without a deeper relationship with her husband? A noise startled her.

“Done mulling things over, Miss Granger?” Snape drawled

“Y-yes professor,” she answered in a small voice.

“Are you sure,” he asked, giving her a pointed stare.

She shook her head slowly. “Professor, the fangs?”

Snape smirked and motioned for her to continue.

“What exactly happens when a person is bitten?”

“By my fangs or Mr. Malfoy’s?” Snape’s tone was thoroughly amused.

“Both please,” she answered apprehensively.

“I’ve only sunk my fangs into one person before. I was fifteen and had been thoroughly beaten by the Marauders on the train,” he began bitterly. “I managed to climb off and get to a bathroom but was too weak to leave the station. I sensed a lovely young witch coming and couldn’t help myself. She was so pure.” His voice cracked. “I managed to seduce her into willingly letting me bite her. The feeling was euphoric. We both achieved climax and I never even touched her inappropriately. She managed to survive the bite, to my surprise. My saliva healed over the punctures in her neck.

From then on she was inexplicably drawn to me and I felt the need to gather her to me, much like I did with you when I consumed your blood. However, this was a much darker need, one charged with sexual tension. Her parents sensed her growing disquiet and moved her to France. I felt her die shortly afterwards. The bond drove her mad and she killed herself.” Snape hung his head sadly. “I vowed to never bite anyone again. I did, however, consume blood. I discovered that the bond was temporary that way and I suspect that it was made permanent with my fangs.”

Tears welled in Hermione’s eyes but she refused to let them fall. How horrible to be the cause of a death. Worse still was that he had absolutely no control over it and no way of knowing the consequences. It broke her heart and seeing the man break before her caused it to bleed for the proud man.

“There’s no way you could have known, sir.” Hermione whispered as she placed a tentative hand on his arm.

Snape shook his head. “There is no excuse for it. I vowed to be stronger since then.” He sighed deeply. “You two won’t have to worry about that. You already have a bond and Draco’s fangs won’t have the same affect mine will. In essence, since he has the magnetism, they will only serve to bring about euphoria. He won’t want to drink your blood but I fear you both might enjoy a small amount of blood play.”

Hermione trembled in fear. She was terrified of sex, or rather, the pain that came from sex. She had read a book on different sexual preferences and BDSM in particular. Blood play was something that scared her to death.

Noticing her discomfort, Snape patted her gently on the shoulder. “You will both do what comes naturally when the time comes. In the end, you may both find you hate it and never do it again or you could love it. The most important thing to remember is the bond. I’m not sure that biting one another won’t cause an even deeper bond to form. I’m not even sure it will be possible after the ceremony tonight. However, if a bite does happen and you feel unrest, let me know.

“There is another ceremony used by vampires that can be performed. It will link you for an eternity, although I do believe you will already be linked that way through your magic. I’m not sure it will be necessary but if you feel the need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“How will we know, professor?” She asked timidly.

Snape sighed heavily. “Trust me, you’ll know. The bond will reach to levels of obsession no normal person experiences. Those of a strong will or borne of the darkness can resist it for a while. Eventually, however, you could go mad. The vampire ceremony links essence rather than souls, since vampires are reported to have no soul. Once the link is made, the unrest will settle.”

Hermione huffed. “So basically, I’ll be obsessed over Draco and he could care less.” She said bitterly.

“No,” Snape said softly. “Quite the opposite really. He will forever hold you above all others. After the ceremony, even death will not keep you apart. Remember, after the ceremony tonight you both will have the same attributes. Your blood will mix equally. You must mask your feelings for each other carefully when we return from the holidays.”

Hermione was stunned. Fear and doubt clouded her mind. Draco might be attracted to her but he didn’t love her. She was a partner and he’d clearly stated that marriage in pureblood circles was purely for gain. Whether monetary or in power, marriage was just a contract. Most kept mistresses to warm their beds. She knew neither of them could stray but a loveless marriage was a terrifying thought. They wouldn’t need to hide their feelings, or at least Draco wouldn’t. He didn’t feel anything other than physical attraction or a bond driven obsession.

She was still mulling over this when she sat down heavily at the Gryffindor table. Snape had left her to her thoughts and instructed her to leave in five minutes time. This would make it look like she, Draco, and Snape were not together and therefore squash any suspicions.

Ginny could see Hermione’s sadness and hear it in her deep sigh. She watched the dejected girl pick at her food. When Hermione froze and stared at her plate, Ginny looked around to see what could cause such a reaction. Pansy had seated herself next to Draco and was hanging all over him. Draco had his arm draped across her shoulder and was talking to Blaise. While holding a conversation, he subsequently was smirking at Crabbe and Goyle who seemed to be drooling while staring at him.

“Ginny, I don’t feel good. I’m going to go lay down for a bit.” Hermione squeaked. Then she jumped and ran out the doors, leaving her bag behind.

Harry gave Ginny a look of deep concern. “I’ll see to her Harry. I’m just going to give her a minute. She’s got a lot on her mind.”

Harry nodded. He figured the curse must have been taking its toll on her. He wished he could help but he would just get in the way. Looking over at the Slytherin table, he saw Draco’s face turn black and then shoot a dark look at the professor.

“Wonder what Malfoy’s problem is?” Harry asked aloud.

When Ginny turned, she was assaulted with legilimency. “Miss Weasley, you must check on her now. She’s trying to refuse the bond and if successful, she could kill them both.”

Ginny gasped and gave an imperceptible nod. “I’m going to check on Mione now, okay Harry?”

“Let me know if she’s okay.”

“Sure!” She said hurriedly. She hoisted Hermione’s bag over her shoulder and made to leave, only to be knocked over by Pansy.

“Watch where you’re going, Weasley.” Pansy sneered.

Ginny blinked up at her and notice Draco was behind her, boring a hole into her head with his eyes. She nodded and he entered her mind.

“Third classroom on the left down the right corridor. Hurry.”

Ginny scrambled off the floor and ran out of the hall, ignoring the snickers from the Slytherins. She found Hermione exactly where Draco had said she was, lying on the floor in the fetal position. She was shaking and grabbing herself about the middle. What made Ginny’s blood run cold was the fact that Hermione was spitting up blood. She had small rivulets of blood trailing down her arms as if from invisible cuts.

“Hermione!” Ginny screamed and ran to her friend.

“I can’t do this Gin. Did you…see…them?” Hermione’s voice was wispy.

“I saw Hermione, but you have to remember that he’s acting. If anyone found out,” she trailed off.

“I could…feel…him. He wasn’t…appalled. He’s usually…nauseous when she…touches him.” Her voice was growing frailer by the minute.

“Maybe he’s learned to shield it from you.” Ginny answered in an uncertain voice. “Mione, I know he’s crazy about you. You can’t do this Mione. You’ll both die. Then what?”

“I’m not refusing. I just…can’t do this. He…won’t die.”

“You don’t know that,” Ginny said firmly. “You said the last time you refused you both passed out. I was there Hermione. He had passed out too. Now you don’t have the bindings to keep your magic from killing you. You will BOTH die!”

“I…can’t…do it. He…doesn’t…love me.” She gasped

“You don’t love him either Hermione.” Ginny whispered.

Hermione gave her a sad smile. “I think I…might. At least…I was starting to.”

Ginny started crying. It was so unfair, so cruel. There was nothing she could do to help. The only person who could convince her was…Malfoy. Malfoy! She wondered if he was bleeding too. She had to get him, but how?

“Hold on Mione. I’ll be right back. Please fight it.” She pleaded.

“No Gin. I’m done…fighting it. It’s better…this way.” She panted.

“No!” Ginny yelled. “You wait until I get back damn it!”

With that, she sprinted out of the room, not noticing that she was covered in blood. She ran as fast as she could to the great hall and once again knocked into a hard body as she turned the corner.

“Professor!” She shrieked when she realized whom she had run into. “She’s given up.” She whispered.

Snape looked stricken. He snatched her hand, trying not to smell the blood and barreled down to the classroom Hermione was currently laying in. Draco had left the hall with his classmates just moments after Ginny left to find Hermione. He hoped his new son fared better but he could feel the blood bond between them weakening.

“Miss Granger!” Snape snapped when he walked through the door. He kneeled by her head and forced her to look into his eyes.

“You must stop this!” He hissed. “Miss Weasley, Draco is on his way to Herbology. Run. Make up whatever story you can think of and get him here now. He might be in the same shape.”

Ginny nodded and darted out the door. She didn’t see her brother and Harry see her leave the hall in a flurry of robes. They had both seen the blood on her hands though. Concerned, they ran after her.

“Ginny!” Ron shouted and he swiftly closed ground between them, Harry hot on his heels.

Ginny cursed her luck and halted to a stop. Spinning, she saw Malfoy hunched behind a tree halfway to the greenhouses.

“What?” She snapped.

“You’re bleeding!” He yelled.

She gave him a look that could melt flesh and answered in a terse voice. “It isn’t mine.” Then she turned and sprinted off behind a different tree. She disillusioned herself and ran to Malfoy, all the while watching her brother and Harry looking around for her frantically.

“Malfoy!” she whispered.

“Weasley?” Draco asked weakly.

“It’s me. We’ve got to get you to Hermione.”

“Too late Red. She’s almost severed it. She can’t stand the thought of being with me,” he said sadly.

“No damn it!” She shouted, drawing the attention of her brother, who still couldn’t see her but started calling for her.

She continued in a softer voice. “She thinks you can’t stand to be with her. She saw you with Pansy today.”

“Act,” Draco wheezed.

“I know that,” Ginny snapped. “She said she didn’t feel nauseous and you normally do when you are with Pansy.”

“Blocking,” he panted.

“Blocking?” Ginny gave him a questioning glance, which he couldn’t see but knew what she meant.

“Yes. I can spare her my feelings for a short while. I was so sick; I was sure I was going to hurl. I didn’t want her to feel it. She’s terrified enough.”

Ginny started crying. “You were trying to spare her?”

Draco nodded. “I…think I… might l-love her.” He gasped and closed his eyes.

“Get up,” Ginny snapped. “You two need to talk, now.”

“Can’t. Too weak. Ditched everyone…and walked back…but this was…as far as…I got. I’m done Red.”

“No!” Ginny whispered in a small voice. “I can levitate you.”

“No. My magic is too volatile. You’ll die.”

“I can’t carry you,” Ginny said in anguish.

“I know,” Draco sighed. “Just let it go Red.”

“NO!” Ginny screamed, drawing further attention to the tree they were behind. “Snape is with Hermione but earlier he said that Lupin was here. Lupin can carry you.” She shot out a patronus urging Lupin to come to the tree immediately. Then she sat back down tried to keep Draco from succumbing.

“No time,” Draco said.

“Yes there is,” she snapped. “We didn’t come this far so you two could kill yourselves over a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes damn it. If you two would lower all of your precious bloody walls you might be able to see the truth staring you in the fucking face!”

“Language Red.”

“Shut up and listen to me Blondie!” She barked, exasperated.

Draco gave a hoarse chuckle. They’d taken to nicknames just a week prior. The two had built a friendship on nothing more than halfhearted insults and camaraderie. They had respect for each other and that was enough for them.

“You two have been secretly together for seven weeks now. You’ve probably talked until your faces are blue. You’ve snogged each other senseless. Hell, you even tried to jump each other in the professor’s study. Yet you haven’t talked one bit about your feelings for one another.”

“Ugh. Sounds like something a Gryffindor would say,” Draco huffed, coughing up some blood and spitting it out to the side.

Ginny shot him a death glare. “You’re getting married you wanker. Most pureblood marriages may be mere contracts but most muggle ones aren’t and Hermione wants love.”

“Didn’t we just go over this?” Draco groaned.

“You just told me, yes. But have you told HER? She thinks you’re having a laugh; that you are only in it to save your skin.”

Draco sighed exasperatedly. “That’s why…I’m marrying her, but it doesn’t mean…I don’t care for her.”

“SO TELL HER ALREADY!” She shouted.

“By the tree Harry!” Ron shouted and the two Gryffindor’s raced up to where Ginny were, only to be stupefied by an unseen person.

“Thank Merlin,” Ginny breathed out, seeing Lupin materialize. “Professor, we need to get him to the third classroom on the left side down the right corridor from the Great Hall.”

Lupin nodded, scooped Draco up like a rag doll, and made his way to the destination Ginny had given him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“You stupid girl,” Snape snapped at Hermione.

Hermione merely looked at him with empty eyes. Snape softened, feeling a sharp stab in his heart.

“Why would you willingly give up what others are fighting so hard to save?”

“Love,” she whispered and closed her eyes.

Snape shook his head. “There’s more love between you and Draco than either of you know. I can see it in your eyes.”

“He’s acting,” she murmured and turned away from him.

Snape grabbed her face and turned it toward him again. “He might be a great actor, but he can’t fool me.”

“I don’t think so. He can’t fool the bond.” She was in tears.

Snape was speechless. He knew his blood son cared more deeply for Hermione than he was willing to admit. How did she think that with just a simple act in the Great Hall that the boy didn’t have any feelings for her?

“Hermione,” Snape’s voice cracked. “I thought Gryffindors were brave and loyal. Where is your courage?”

Hermione turned toward him sadly. “It left with my heart.” She dropped her eyes to the floor and started convulsing.

“NO DAMN IT. Not again. I. Will. Not. Lose. Another. Person. I. Care. For.” He said in a deadly tone.

“Care for?” she asked in a small voice when her tremor ended.

“Yes, care for damn it. I’ve told you that you are like a daughter to me. Tonight, you will become my blood daughter, my...family,” he said in a fractured tone.

“But Severus,” Hermione rasped weakly, using his name for the first time. “You are already my family. You’ve healed me, listened to me, and in your own twisted way, have been a great friend and mentor. My parent’s memories would have been wiped tonight and you would have become my surrogate father. But I can’t do this. I can’t live without being loved. I thought about it and I just can’t.”

“You stupid girl,” Snape snapped. “How can someone so intelligent not see something that was right in front of them?”

“Mmmm?”

“How could anyone who gets to know you not fall in love with you?”

“Easily,” She rasped, missing the implications of Snape’s words. “I’m just the bookish person under the bush of hair.”

“You,” Snape said in a low gravelly voice, “are the glue that will hold us together. You are compassionate and brilliant, everything I’ve ever wanted to find in a mate for myself. I would be proud to call you my daughter if you would just get over this silly notion that you will live a life without love. I’ve lived for years without love and I know how painful it can be but damn it girl, you’ll have more love than you know what to do with.”

Hermione was speechless. Snape had just bared his soul to her. She thought it was perhaps the first time he had done so willingly. He’d said he’d be proud to call her his daughter. It was comforting, but the deep stabbing pain in her heart wouldn’t go away.

“Thank you,” she rasped. “Thank you for telling me. I can go in peace now.”

“NO!” Snape shouted as Lupin burst through the door with Draco.

Ginny followed right behind and skidded to a stop. Snape was kneeling on the ground, holding Hermione’s upper body in his arms. He looked close to tears and she had heard him scream before they got in.

“She’s not,” Ginny asked while shaking her head. “She can’t be!”

“Not yet,” Hermione rasped.

Lupin placed Draco on the floor beside her and performed a scourgify to cleanse the couple of the growing amount of blood. With the sticky crimson pools gone, the occupants of the room could see that there were no cuts. The blood once again poured in rivers from the couple through their very pores.

“Merlin,” Lupin breathed. “It’s coming from their cores.”

Snape nodded sadly, still clutching Hermione’s hand tightly.

“I’ll get the headmaster,” Lupin replied quietly. He’d seen how affected the normally cold and calculating potions master was. It was very unsettling. Dumbledore had only told him what he needed to know, that this marriage would be important to the destruction of Voldemort. However, seeing the reactions of both Severus and Ginny Weasley, it was clear that something much more profound was happening. He hastened to the headmaster’s office.

Draco and Hermione were silent but their shallow, coarse breathing could be heard throughout the room. They were looking toward each other sadly but neither said a word. Snape was still clutching Hermione like a child would a doll. He looked in anguish toward his blood son who he could feel slipping slowly away. Thoroughly broken, two tears slowly ran down his face. It was the second time he’d cried since Lily died. He laid the girl down beside her would-be beau.

Ginny couldn’t take it anymore. Angry tears cascaded down her face. “You two are both too bloody stubborn for your own good. If you won’t talk, I will damn it. You’re letting yourselves die for the stupidest reason ever: you lack love. You both love each other enough to die because you THINK you don’t have it. I have news for you two. You both said as much to me in the course of minutes.”

Draco and Hermione looked to Ginny in horror while Snape looked on with mild interest. He’d already known they were starting to love each other but he had no idea they had confessed it aloud.

“Still have nothing to say,” Ginny seethed. “Fine. Hermione, Draco is falling in love with you. He said as much to me but he thinks that you can’t stand him and are slowly and painfully letting yourself die because of it. He’s okay with this apparently because it is what YOU want.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide as she looked to Draco for confirmation. Draco nodded his head slightly with closed eyes. He couldn’t bear to see her hatred of him.

“Ugh,” Ginny groaned. “Draco, open your damned eyes.” He opened them and saw Hermione staring, as if she had come to some realization. He was puzzled but still they didn’t speak.

“All right,” Ginny fumed. “More convincing then? Draco, Hermione is falling in love with you. She wants to be loved so badly she’s apparently willing to die for it. She thinks that you’re having a lark, just like I told you outside. She’d rather die than be tied to someone who is only using her.”

Draco’s eyes widened. Hermione had turned from him and started sobbing. So she did love him. Why would she fight the bond so vehemently?

“Why,” he managed to grind out. “Why would you fight it so much if you care for me?”

“I saw you with her.” Hermione said in a small stifled voice. “You looked happy.”

“Hardly,” Draco whispered. “I can block my emotions from you for a small period of time. You would have had to run to the loo if you had felt like I did in that moment. It felt as if I was selling my soul, just like I did when I kneeled before the Dark Lord. I wanted to spare you.”

Hermione turned. “Spare me?”

“Yes you silly girl. Did you seriously WANT to feel like utter shite at that particular moment?”

Hermione slowly shook her head.

“I knew you were unsettled from what the professor told you.”

At her puzzled look, he elaborated. “Excellent hearing.”

Ah, so he had heard her conversation with Snape. She blushed, which was quite a feat considering how much blood she had lost.

“Oh ma chére, come here,” breathed Draco.

She slowly crawled to him.

“Wait,” Snape snapped before they could embrace. He quickly scourgified them both. “If your blood mixes, it might bond on its own. That would be entirely horrendous at this point in time.”

The two gave a horrified look. They’d already mixed blood in the bathroom when taking the oath.

“It was a blood oath,” Snape said flatly. The couple blinked, unable to divulge more. “No wonder your minds linked. You inadvertently bound yourselves together at that moment. That explains the severity of your pains.” He sighed.

The couple touched foreheads and a weak light was emitted. The blood slowed but was still pooling steadily on the floor.

“It’s not enough,” Snape whispered. “Your cores are too unstable. I had worried that your cores would rip apart under the strain before we could bind you together. It seems that this event has only sped it along.”

“No!” Ginny moaned.

“It’s ok.” they both whispered in unison.

“No.” Ginny and Snape murmured.

“What about Voldemort?” Ginny snapped. “I thought you wanted to rid the world of him. That was the WHOLE reason for this in the first place, wasn’t it? I mean, you could have lasted for a long time if you just begrudgingly had contact.”

She received three astonished looks.

“Oh don’t look at me like that. I’m not an idiot. Your minds bonded in the bathroom but you still fought it for a while. Draco’s proposal was out of the blue, as if someone had orchestrated it.” She shot a glare at Snape.

“You could have just slept together and gotten it over with. Marriage could only strengthen the bond. You would have both lived, regardless. But NO! You both decided that the stronger the bond, the greater your chances and NOW you are both dying because you think the other doesn’t love you and you do. For two of the brightest and most talented people I have ever met, you two are utterly, ridiculously stupid.” Ginny puffed in anger.

Snape’s shoulders were heaving as his head was turned toward the back of the classroom. It was easy to see that he was trying not to laugh out loud.

“I don’t see what’s so funny, professor. They are killing themselves slowly. You find it amusing?” Ginny fumed.

“Hardly,” Snape snickered and then sobered. “I find it droll that a mere wisp of a girl is putting them in their place. The heart of the message is what is most amusing though. Casual sex could have fixed everything.”

Ginny was stunned at the professor’s words. Seeing the hilarity in the situation, her mouth quirked as well. Then she heard Draco wheeze out a laugh. Hermione’s eyes were full of mirth as well. It seemed like the utter ridiculousness of the situation had dawned on them all and lightened the mood.

Light flashed with every giggle the couple admitted. It seemed as though they were trying to fight it and it was sparking their magic again. Snape’s eyes were aglow with delight.

“Well, well, perhaps laughter really is the best medicine,” he mused. “You might not be traveling to the veil quite as quickly as you assumed.”

Draco and Hermione stared into each other’s eyes. Ginny’s browbeating had made them see how dense they had been. The marriage wasn’t the end all; it was only a tool. Deciding that being foolish was only hurting their cause, they both reluctantly lowered their walls. The revelations therein made them gasp and startled Snape and Ginny out of their musings.

“You think they can fix it, professor?” Ginny whispered.

“I do believe so,” answered Snape in a low tone. “They will be weak until the bonding though. They’ve lost so much blood.” His voice cracked.

Ginny gasped in understanding. It must have been extremely difficult for the day walker to be in the same room with them. She quickly scourgified his person, the floor, and the couple who were lost in each other’s thoughts.

“Are you going to be alright, professor?” Ginny asked in a small voice.

“Better now. Thank you Miss Weasley.” Snape sighed. “I’ll need to get them a blood replenisher and a pepper up potion. I fear that the bleeding won’t entirely stop until tonight. Their cores have sustained too much damage and in their unbound state, their magic will flare uncontrollably and continue to tear at them. However, they must carry on as if nothing has happened. We’ve already raised suspicions and all of us missing this class period will most certainly not go unnoticed.”

Ginny nodded. The door swinging open interrupted her reply. Startled, she and Snape leapt to their feet, wands drawn.

“No need to worry,” Dumbledore’s soft voice rang out. “It is only us.” He continued walking into the room without the slightest worry for the two wands trained on him. Lupin followed silently and locked and warded the door behind them.

“I see they are better.” Dumbledore started, pointing to the two students whose gaze was locked upon each other.

“Much, but I fear it won’t be enough. We most certainly had better move the date to tonight.”

Dumbledore nodded. “Will you be able to patch them up until then?”

“I don’t know Albus,” Snape sighed. “I doubt the bleeding will stop entirely and if they use so much as a scourgify on themselves, it could be a disaster.”

“Let’s leave them be for the rest of the class period. I doubt they will notice our absence,” Dumbledore continued, his eyes full of mirth. “Bring them the proper potions quickly. We’ll have to fill Remus in on the ceremony and the circumstances surrounding it I’m afraid.”

Swallowing down his hatred for the werewolf, Snape nodded. He stalked across the floor and out the door without another word.

“Miss Weasley,” Dumbledore began. “I will give you a pass for your class. I dare say your brother and Mr. Potter were quite worried about you. Of course, they are also a bit angry that you chose to stun them.” His eyes twinkled merrily when her mouth dropped in indignation. “Please clean yourself up and go to what is left of your class. As for an explanation, Miss Granger simply garnered a cut which needed a plant from Madam Sprout to heal.”

Ginny nodded and scourgified herself. Then she accepted the pass and made her way back to class.

“Remus, I will see you in my office in about ten minutes. Please stay here and protect them until Severus returns.”

Remus nodded and watched the headmaster leave. Then he resealed the door and perched on a chair in the far corner of the room to give the couple some space.

AN: Thank you all so much for the reviews and the luck. I'll need it! As always, thank you again and please let me know how I'm doing and if you find any errors. I'm still looking through the other chapters to find and fix them.

As for those with concerns: Dont' worry Diva, Hermione will toughen up. Remember, she's been through a lot lately. She's just got to find her stride.

I don't think I'm Ron bashing. He's pretty caught up snogging Lav-Lav at this point and Hermione's pretty much trying to ignore him at all costs. They'll work it out. He won't be some evil entity or anything, just the same old goofy Ron who is no good at emotions.
- 12
- 13
- 14
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Bound