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Third Time's a Soul Bond?	By : Wilde_Guess Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Ron Views: 6735 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
Chapter 14, "A Spell in Time" where Ron learns a new spell by casting…
-BANG!- -BANG!- -BANG!—
“It's five to six. All of you need to get up! You need to meet Headmaster Dumbledore at 6:30. I’ll explain when you come down for breakfast Wear your uniforms."
"Thanks, Mum, we're moving" I replied as I turned down the covers and sheet. We could all tell that something out of the ordinary, and not necessarily, welcome had happened overnight. Neville, Harry, and I checked our notebooks. Whatever it was, it hadn’t gone through Croaker yet.
We were all tired from being up late the night before, but were alert and quickly dressed except for our shoes. Harry left his tie off and collar open. With the wing collar, I didn’t blame him. We quickly cycled through the loo, and were eating breakfast by 6:10
As she served us, Mum said, “Not good news. Mr. Ollivander called Professor Dumbledore earlier this morning. He went into the shop early today and checked the Longbottom Wands. He told Dumbledore that the souls were weakening to the point that whatever is going to be tried needs to be tried today.
“Professor Dumbledore said they are moving the Longbottoms to the DOM section of the 4th Floor, and that he and Mr. Ollivander will meet you there.”
The six of us continued to eat quickly while listening. We each had a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice to go with our fry-up.
Harry and Neville finished first, but the rest of us finished less than a minute after then. Harry had Mipsy tie his tie for him. We all put on our shoes, grabbed our wives, and Portkeyed to St. Mungo’s by way of our credentials.
Professor Dumbledore and Master Garrick were wafting for us when we arrived. Master Garrick had both Longbottom Wands with him. Dumbledore had a largish flask filled with a neon robin’s egg blue coloured potion.
In greeting, Headmaster Dumbledore asked, “Mr. Weasley, is your familiar available?”
I gave Lucky Boy a quick call in my mind, and he was standing beside us.
“He’s here. What do we to need to do?”
He told me, “I will need you to actually cast the spells. You should have enough sensitivity to Soul Bonds, and indirectly to souls themselves, that along with your ability to dual-cast, you should be able to successfully push the souls of Frank and Alice back into their bodies.”
Addressing the rest of the group, Dumbledore added, “The rest of you are here for direct support. Harry, Ginny and you will be at Ron’s right arm, and channel magical power to Ron as needed through your bonds. Luna, Neville, Hermione, and you will be at Ron’s left arm, and channel magical power to Ron primarily for Frank Longbottom. Lucky Boy will help bridge Neville and Hermione to you.
Turning back to me, the Headmaster said, “I will also help, Ron, but this will be your spell to cast. Due to their Soul Bond, we cannot risk trying to restore their souls one at a time. Due to the fragile condition of everything involved, the caster will require a gentle touch, but with the ability to both increase and decrease, the amount of power you will use.
“You should also draw more from Harry’s magic for Alice, since Harry is Alice’s godson, and she instinctively knows and accepts his magic where she may reject others. Likewise, you should draw on Neville’s magic for Frank for the same reason.
“The spell’s incantation is ‘Spiritus Restituet.’ The intent of the spell is to guide the soul back into its proper place in the body in one piece.   You must make your magic, and the magic you draw from Harry and Neville as soothing as possible while moving Alice and Frank’s souls fully back into their bodies.
“We will have healers on hand to perform physical healing as needed. The potion I have is a very rare and advanced healing potion. We probably won’t be able to use it until after the souls are returned, but I will concentrate more on that. I will also guide you when I see that you need it.”
Our group walked while Headmaster Dumbledore instructed us. We entered a two-bed secure room. Frank and Alice were on treatment gurneys rather than convalescent beds. They were in simple hospital gowns, covered only in sheets for modesty. Two DOM Healers were by each gurney, with a fifth in charge overall.
Garrick handed me the Longbottom Wands. I could tell easily by the magical “feel” which one was Franks, and which was Alice’s.
I came around behind the head-ends of the gurneys. Alice was on the gurney to my right. Hearing the rustling of clothing, I noticed Harry removing his upper garments.
Harry said, “I can feel that we will need skin-to-skin contact between our hands and shoulders. Hermione, Luna, and Ginny should leave on their innermost top garment for modesty if they can. We boys should not.”
Neville was already bare-chested. Hermione and Ginny kept their bras. Luna was bare-chested entirely. I quickly joined them. Harry and Luna, having direct bonds to me, each wrapped an arm around my back. They spread out their other arms, to grasp Ginny and Neville across their backs. Neville extended his left arm for Hermione, and they wrapped their arms around each other’s backs.
“Healers,” I asked, “How bad is their nervous scaring?”
The Healer in Charge answered, “There is very little apparent scaring. Physically, they are in good shape. We have done additional treatment in the past four days, but little was actually needed.”
“Thank you, Healer,” I replied. “Headmaster, do you have any other guidance for me?”
He assured me, “No. If you can focus on anyone’s voice outside of the spell, focus on mine. The six of you will be physically supported, so don’t worry about anything outside of the spell beyond my voice. Mage Sight might help you.”
“Thanks,” I answered.
I held the tip of each wand to the forehead of its prior wielder and cast; “Spiritus Restituet.”
I had to incant a dozen gentle times before I could feel movement. I looked at the tips of the wands for any sign of “leakage.” I didn’t see any.
I asked, “Dumbledore, I have some movement. Are the souls going back in, or only out?”
He told me, “I cannot tell yet.”
I continued to incant, and gently “push” the souls out of the wands, and hopefully back into their bodies. After a few minutes of incanting and casting, I was able to feel the link that tied the soul portions in the wands to the soul portions that had remained inside of Alice and Frank.
I continued to incant, and gently push. The souls, after some hesitation, were being drawn back into their bodies. I used as much of Harry’s magic directly from our bond, for Alice. I used Neville’s magic indirectly though my bond with Luna, assisted by Lucky Boy for Frank.
I continued to incant, and gently push. The souls were being drawn back into their bodies more quickly. Time seemed to lose all meaning. Other than the silence waiting to be filled by Headmaster Dumbledore at need, there were only the wands, the spells, the magic, and the souls.
Once the souls were moving, I quickly fond the fastest pace that could push the souls without inflaming or irritating them. That fast, and no faster, I continued to nudge and urge the souls to return to their proper place.
It was a game of endurance. I incanted, I pushed, and I endured. I was occasionally interrupted by Dumbledore to drink something. I drank, while continuing to incant. I swallowed as I pushed. And, in a pale imitation of what Frank and Alice Longbottom endured these past almost ten years, I endured.
I continued to incant. I pushed, and I endured. Finally, with a last shift, all of the portions of Frank and Alice Longbottom’s souls that were trapped in their wands were no longer in their wands, but were once again in their bodies. With nothing left needing to be pushed, I ceased incanting. The spell was complete. Whether the next pages of the story were triumph or tragedy, I had done my part as well as I was able to do it. It was finished.
Coming back to the “outside” world, I noticed that all six of us were set up on racks, to maintain the alignment of our upper bodies, as they were when I started casting the spell. The hospital staff had covered us for modesty, after removing our clothing. We had vanishing pads on us beneath our hospital gowns and sheets.
Headmaster Dumbledore and Master Garrick had left and returned again. Unlike most rooms, this particular room actually had windows and natural daylight. It was now later in the day, relatively speaking, since I started casting the spell.
I asked, “How long has it been?”
Dumbledore informed me, “Thirty hours. Everything seems to be working. Frank and Alice are expected to come back around sometime tomorrow.”
I took a closer look at them. They actually appeared almost as young as they did in their pictures from ten years ago.
Sensing my confusion Dumbledore explained, “We started administering the healing potion once it became clear that the potion would not only not hinder the process of returning their souls, but would actually help the process. They have need of only one or two more doses to ensure that they are well and truly healed. They will need counselling, of course. They have in effect been in a coma for the past ten years. They will have some memories of their time in the Janus Thickey Ward, but not that many.”
By this time, I had regained movement of my body. I examined the two wands. They felt completely dead. I tried for a spark-shower from each one. They were both almost as if I were waiving a pair of dowels.
Master Garrick said, “The reconditioning of the wands was a success, Ron, in so far as the wands could be reconditioned. However, a wand is not made to be the vessel for a human soul. Something had to give. In this case, it was the cores of the wands. Let me examine them.”
Master Garrick walked over to me. I handed him the wands. He felt them, and paused in thought for a minute or two.
He said, “I think I will try something. I will either fail but learn something, or I will succeed, and also learn something. While what I learn may never be used again, I will share it with you anyway.
“You need to get your fellows and yourself back to your home. Your time here has not been restful, and you will need genuine rest. I suppose I will see you here tomorrow.”
I replied, “I’m sure all six of us will be here tomorrow, Master Garrick. The question will be if I can get all of us moving, or whether we’ll still be here, tomorrow.”
Master Garrick left the room, just as the rest of us returned to the “real” world.
Harry awoke first, and after rifling through my most recent memories asked, “Can you help me with the rest of us?”
He called, “Odo, Mipsy, Kreacher.”
All three house-elves appeared. He said, “We three masters will need help getting back to the Burrow shortly. First, we need our clothes.”
With a snap of the fingers from each house-elf, our clothes were clean and at-hand. He put on his y-fronts, t-shirt, and trousers. He checked that he had his notebook and credentials in his trouser pockets, and that his holster and wand were still on his right arm.
He said, “Mipsy, help Mistresses Hermione and Luna get dressed enough to be decent for a quick meal. Kreacher, help Master Neville finish waking up and getting at least partially dressed.”
Ginny was already awake and fully dressed. She turned to lend a hand with Hermione and Luna. Harry asked everyone, “Do any of you know what Mum is fixing for lunch?”
Kreacher faded for a moment and answered, “Young Master’s new mother is in the outside hallway. Kreacher can make a meal for Young Master, his family, and his friends.”
Harry said, “Please do that, Kreacher.”
“Kreacher is off to do Young Master’s bidding,” replied the house-elf as he snapped out of the room.
Harry drew his wand, and I saw a brief flash. He holstered it again, and Mum walked into the room.
Harry said to her, “Thanks for waiting, Mum. I’ve got Kreacher fixing something for lunch. After the six of us eat, we’ll need some real sleep. We’ll probably sleep ‘til breakfast tomorrow, and then eat a larger than usual breakfast to make up the difference between real meals and the ‘potion shakes’ they fed us.”
The rest of us were now as alert and dressed as we were going to get. Harry had Mipsy and Odo shuttle Mum and the girls back to the Burrow. Deciding not to play “Portkey Roulette,” Harry had Mipsy and Odo take the rest of us back to the Burrow.
We were fed, showered, and back in bed by half-four.
§§§
Thursday dawned bright and clear. What was even better was that we didn’t get awakened until 7:30. We dressed quickly in our school uniforms, and went downstairs to the kitchen. After eating a very large breakfast, we Portkeyed back to the DOM section of the fourth floor, to encounter both Croaker and Lady Augusta walking toward us.
I checked the Mediwizard station first. Frank and Alice had awoken somewhat confused, but generally lucid around 6:30 the previous evening. They remained conscious, regaining further lucidity as the time passed. They ate a light meal together and were back in a normal sleep by about 9:00 PM. There were no messages left for me or anyone else.
By the time I had finished, Croaker and Lady Augusta had approached the Mediwizard Station. Neville and Lady Augusta were hugging and crying together. Only now, it seemed, did Neville realize that he might well actually have his parents back. Even with my unique experiences, I couldn’t really imagine the emotional burden the two Longbottoms had carried together, or the mix of emotions they were living. An unfortunate circumstance they had lived for almost ten years had ended, not in tragic relief, but in what was starting to prove a dramatic recovery.
Croaker looked somewhat conflicted. As the Head of the Department of Mysteries, he would wish for as much of the entire last two days as possible remain secret forever. He would want to study Frank and Alice, along with the remains of their former wands, to learn more about the conflicts and synergy between love, death, and time. As the uncle to Frank and Alice Longbottom, he probably wished, at least at first, to shout from the mountaintops that his nephew and niece would likely make a full recovery.
I greeted him. “Good morning, Croaker. Has any of this made it to the press, yet?”
“No, Senior Mage; and we wish to keep it that way for as long as possible.
“We are in the process of creating the ‘legend’ to explain Frank and Alice’s recovery as being far more gradual than it truly was. Once they are released from hospital, they will remain mostly out of public sight at Longbottom Hall, at least at first. They will still need time to recover and resume their places in society in any case.
“Headmaster Dumbledore, Garrick Ollivander, and your Mage-Team’s involvement is classified ‘Most Secret,’ along with just about everything else involved. Many parts of what took place, should they become known, would cause societal unrest beyond imagining. Moreover, Dumbledore had to trade most insistently on the good graces of a friend and mentor to produce the potion you may have seen.”
“Did Dumbledore say who did the brewing?” I asked.
“No,” Croaker replied.
Headmaster Dumbledore and Master Garrick arrived at the Mediwizard Station at that moment. Master Garrick was carrying two freshly completed wands. As Dumbledore and he drew closer, I could see that the wands were actually the Longbottom Wands, or at least gave every appearance of being so.
I greeted Master Garrick first. “Master Garrick, are those the remains of the Longbottom Wands?”
He informed us, “They are more than that, Apprentice Weasley. They are the first wands I have successfully re-cored in almost a century. The Unicorn Stallion who gave the tail hairs for the original cores was a very long-lived animal; in fact, he lives as yet. I was able to get two more tail hairs from him, extract the remains of the original cores from both wands, and re-core them.
“At one time, re-coring wands was more commonly practiced, since the wood of the wand body would oftentimes be more magically powerful than virgin wood. The practice fell out of favour because of the time involved. Also, slight yet significant improvements in the sealing glues made premature core failure without contaminating the wand body almost unheard of.
“While we won’t know for sure until Frank and Alice actually hold the wands whether the wands will accept them or not, the chances appear quite good. The wands are every bit as powerful as the day I originally crafted them if not more so.
“Once the Longbottoms are recovered enough to try having the wands choose them, I would like you present. While the final work, like the original is mine, the work you did on the wands allowed both them and their wielders to remain in the world of the living.”
Dumbledore greeted, “Good morning, Ron. The Longbottoms are indeed making a full recovery, or at least as full as the circumstances will allow. They have been more or less in a coma for the past ten years. They have not had the physical decline a Muggle would have had under similar circumstances. In fact, apart from needing more physical exercise to return to ‘fighting’ condition they are physically and magically in as good or better condition than they were prior to the attack. However, they have missed almost a decade of life. This is not something one dismisses easily, if at all.
“Magically and physically, they are fully healed, as I have said. The particular potion you saw is, as you would say, ‘Most Secret.’ A normal Potions Master could not brew that elixir. Not even Severus, who is probably the greatest Potions Master of this age.”
I asked, “Was the potion what I think it was, Headmaster?”
He replied, “Not quite. I do not need to even read your surface thoughts for that. It is a derivative of that Potion. However, while it requires the same skill-set to brew, and the same circumstances, it is both less effective and less addictive. It will not sustain one over the centuries, though its healing effectiveness does reverse the ravages of time to an amazing degree. This buffering also provides a benefit.
“My friends, despite being obliged to wear glamours to not appear nearly as physically youthful as they actually are, have not been able to conceive in almost five hundred years. While they can perform the procreative act, and seem to enjoy that comfort rather frequently, their ‘seed and pollen’ are too resilient; they refuse to join to make new life.
“While my friends do not need to imbibe their elixir frequently, they do have to partake of it from time to time, and failing that will rapidly decline and die.
“Frank and Alice will not have these ‘burdens.’ Young Neville may in fact have a sibling who is only a month or less younger than its nephews or nieces. Frank and Alice will not need any more of the healing elixir to live a long and ‘normal’ life, taking all things into consideration.”
A DOM Mediwizard got our attention. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” he stated, “the Healer is allowing Lord Frank and Lady Alice’s request for all of you to join them in their room for a few minutes to say hello and take care of urgent business. Baring the unforeseen, they will be discharged from hospital tomorrow morning, to finish their convalescence at Longbottom Hall.”
There were ten of us in the waiting area all told. There was Croaker, Headmaster Dumbledore, Master Garrick, Lady Augusta, and the three of us “first-year-couples.” We all quietly followed the Mediwizard into the hospital room we had been in Tuesday and Wednesday.
The difference was almost like night and day. The window was actually open to allow “fresh” air into the room. Instead of two gurneys, there was a “full size” hospital bed. There were also a number of chairs in the room to allow most of us visiting to sit should we choose to do so.
Frank and Alice were sharing the bed, and wearing pyjamas instead of hospital gowns. Mipsy allowed us to see her as we walked into the room, before she faded from view.
Frank and Alice themselves were the biggest changes in the rooms. Unlike my memories from my previous lifetimes, and my brief observations Tuesday, they were both physically in great shape, at least from outward appearance. They had showered that morning, Frank had a fresh shave, and their hair was no longer grey or faded in colour.
Frank was the first to speak. “Thank you, all of you, for the parts you played in Lady Alice’s and my recovery. We will ‘thin out’ the crowd here, reducing it to family.
He turned first to Master Garrick. “Mr. Ollivander, I’m told that Alice’s and my wands did not survive the entirety of our ordeal?”
Master Garrick answered, “That is partially true. I was able to re-core both wands that had been Alice’s and yours. I’ll hand you what was your wand first to see if it will choose you.”
Master Garrick handed Frank the wand. The thick and instant shower of red and gold sparks proclaimed that it was once again Frank’s wand.
Master Garrick handed Frank an Auror Holster to go with the wand. Frank wasted no time in pushing back his right sleeve and donning the holster. Two Auror Badges appeared on the blankets in front of Frank and Alice. Alice took one of the two, pinned Frank’s holster, and set the badge on her nightstand.
Master Garrick handed Alice the other wand, handle first. The spark-shower was just as thick and instant, but was in yellow and black.
While Frank was pinning her holster, on her left arm, she explained. “I was supposed to sort ‘Hufflepuff.’ Frank sorted into Gryffindor, though. I had words with the hat, and my ‘bravery’ in confronting it won me the ‘Lion’s Den.’”
Master Garrick told them, “There is no charge for any of the goods and services my apprentices and I have provided you. The alliance between their House and yours clouds any attempt to try calculating costs in any case. The new cores in your wands came from the exact same Unicorn who provided the originals; along with the cores in your son’s wand and both wands my senior apprentice carries.
“Do any of you have any questions of me?” Master Garrick finished. No one did.
He excused himself, saying, “Then I will bid all of you a good day. My shop does not run itself. Albus, once my apprentices have settled better in their Hogwarts studies, I will want them to work and learn the Craft during the day when they can be made available. I hope that between your Deputy and I that we can come up with a sufficient arrangement.”
Headmaster Dumbledore replied, “I’m sure we will, Garrick, and a good day to you as well.”
Master Garrick left the room to return to the shop.
Frank and Alice both got out of bed, and in turn hugged and kissed Augusta, Harry, Neville, and Hermione before getting back into bed.
Alice spoke next. “We’ve waited almost ten years for that, and didn’t want to wait any longer.
“Thanks, Mum-Augusta for raising Neville for us. While Frank and I wish you’d kept up with having Neville attend the Mass, we understand why you didn’t.
“Hermione, welcome to the family. ‘Frank’ and ‘Alice’ are good enough for addressing us. If we stuck with ‘Lord of This’ and ‘Lady of That,’ we’d be too busy tripping over titles to actually live life.
“Headmaster, we understand that the war is not exactly over, and you might need to gather the rest of the ‘old crowd.’ Frank and I will be proud to do our part. I also understand that everyone here knows about all of the Soul Bonds in the room?”
Everyone nodded in assent. She continued, “That’s good, then. I also trust that the one bond will remain secret for as long as possible for the benefit of my godson and the more public parts of his family?”
Everyone nodded their assent. Ginny and I both moved to Harry’s side, each without realizing the other had done so, and with Luna barely half a thought behind me. Harry was both profoundly ashamed and slightly angry.
To get the subject of conversation onto what I hoped was a slightly “safer” topic, I asked, “Lady Alice, how are you so well-informed about current events?”
She got out of bed, and helped us silently comfort Harry. While doing this, she answered, “Mother to son, and father to daughter. You will have ‘child-bonds’ with all of your children until roughly when they hit puberty. Then, the bonds fade very quickly. The greatest challenge you will have in raising your children in fact will be ‘learning’ to read your children the same way that more ‘typical’ parents know and read their children. During their teenage years, when they will need your guidance the most, you will no longer have the child-bond to rely upon.
“To save us all time, I quietly ‘read’ Neville, for lack of a better way of explaining it. He knew, but he allowed me to do it. Our bond may last a little longer than normal because of our even more unique circumstances, but it will fade with time.
“We don’t disapprove of Harry’s and your bond. I consider you one of my own, just as I do Harry. We also understand how important your bond is to the both of you. We just don’t want to see the two of you subject to public scandal or scorn. Obviously, even without your public bonds, you have all been honest and open with each other. So, there is at least one less thing to worry about.
“Please pass on to Molly and Arthur Frank’s and my gratitude for them hosting Neville and Hermione. We love all of our children and grandchildren, and wish to see more of them. We also saw our two eldest children cut to pieces before our very eyes, and weren’t even able to help our Mum and Dad bury them. Since their ‘extended sleep-over’ includes wards as powerful as those that protect Hogwarts, we will say nothing beyond ‘thank you for your hospitality.’”
Frank decided to say a few things. “Yes, Seneschal Weasley, welcome to the family. If your Lord allows, we may use Christian names with each other.”
Harry asked, “Does that mean first names, Lord Longbottom? I grant this boon to my ally. I’m not sure what I should call you, though.”
Frank got out of bed and hugged Harry. “I suppose ‘Frank’ will do, since from what I understand third-hand about your life ‘Uncle’ and ‘Aunt’ are not what you would consider terms of endearment, and that ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’ are already taken. Harry?”
Harry hugged Frank back even tighter, while shedding “happy” tears and thanking Frank.
Once everyone had regained his or her composure, and Frank had returned to bed, he spoke again. “Uncle Algernon, Mum, has Uncle Saul been about at all?”
Croaker answered, “Your Uncle Saul hasn’t changed while you’ve been ‘away,’ Frank. We still have to send food down to the level more than occasionally. He and your Mum still don’t get along with each other, despite being fraternal twins.”
Frank said, “And don’t think for one second that making a Dog out of my son evens the books for all the stupid shite you pulled on him to try and make him show his magic. If anything, it would be the opposite, really. You’re my Uncle, and I love you. But, you are on notice.”
Turning to me, he asked, “And how did you end up a Dog, anyway? I would have thought that if you went into defence that you would have gone with the DMLE?”
I replied, “If previous lifetimes counted outside of the DOM, I have thirty-two years seniority with the Aurors, six months of which were as Head Auror. I discovered very quickly once I was ‘conned’ into taking the job, that I did not like being stuck in an office all day. The Battle Mages had an opening, so I took that rather than retiring. I have fourteen years experience as a Dog before this time, and I started in the reserves in this lifetime a year and a half ago. I’ve only been on full active duty here since September 1st, and I was only promoted to Senior Battle Mage a week ago.”
Frank said, “Congratulations, Ron. For what it’s worth, I’ve been a Senior Auror for eleven years, but I’ve spent most of that time in this very building. Make sure you train Neville up well, and keep him as safe as you can.”
I answered, “Neville has pulled his weight from prior to day one. After the war is over, he should still have plenty of opportunities in addition to the Battle Mage Office. While eleven is rather young to pick something for most people, I think he would do quite well in several fields.”
I looked at the time. It was 10:50. I asked, “Are Alice and you restricted to hospital food?”
Alice answered, “Not really. Seeing that the Headmaster is here, I would like to invite him to remain with us, whatever you had in mind, Ron.”
I told her, “Thanks, Alice.”
Turning to Mipsy, I asked, “Mipsy? How are the sandwich spreads holding out?”
She answered, “They should be fine, Master Ron, along with the potato salad. If Mipsy may suggest that Masters and Mistresses invite Master Ron’s mother, and that Master Ron has Kreacher’s Young Master have Kreacher bring the food? Mipsy could be told to help Otto bring a table and any needed chairs for Masters and Mistresses.”
I caught a flash out of the corner of my eye. About a minute later, a silver wolverine entered the room. It said, “That sounds fine, Harry. Have Kreacher show himself to me before he brings me in.”
The Patronus barely faded before Mum herself appeared, saying, “Thank you, Kreacher. You’re a credit to the Most Ancient and Noble House you serve.”
Turning to Frank and Alice, she said, “It’s much better to see you under these circumstances than what might otherwise have been. Especially you, Alice.”
Mum and Alice hugged each other in greeting, as the twelve-place table and food appeared. Dumbledore quietly called whichever house-elf he needed, and a side-cart appeared with his Armagnac decanter and crystal service.
The table itself was quickly set with places and chairs for all. The twelfth place was explained as Dad arrived, saying, “Thank you, Kreacher. Your service to your Master and Young Master are a credit to the House you serve.”
Greeting the rest of us, he said, “Hello, all. Harry decided to invite me. I hope I’m not intruding?”
Frank replied, “No meeting of the ‘old crowd’ would be complete without you, Arthur. How’s life been treating you with your ‘Muggle stuff?’”
“Quite well, Frank, and it’s a blessed sight to these eyes seeing Alice and you about again.”
More hugs and handshakes were shared about as we took our seats. The elves quietly served the beverages around. Dad, Mum, Dumbledore, Croaker and Ginny took tea. The rest of us took coffee. Everyone except for Dad and the girls also took a snifter of House of Flamel.
Frank sat at the head of the table. He announced, “One of the more arcane parts of a Soul Bond is that after your first child, you have a much greater and more conscious choice of what gender of child you conceive and when. This is not only Alice’s first dram since that night, but it’s also her ‘last dram’ for the duration. We’re expecting a son in June, shortly after the birth of our first two grandchildren.” Everyone stood and drank a toast to the newly expecting couple.
As we passed around and ate the sandwich points and potato salad, we continued to talk.
“Hermione, how have your parents taken the news so far?” Alice asked.
She answered, “They’re getting better. I’m sure you can imagine how a Muggle couple would handle their almost-twelve-year-old daughter coming home married and pregnant. They have gotten much better. Thankfully, they’ve also done so quickly. Even with Frank and you recovering, I’ll need help adjusting. Mum and Dad are Mum and Dad, and it would hurt a lot if I didn’t have at least the idea of having them to turn to.”
Alice said, “I understand more than you realize, though I was thirteen when Frank and I sealed, and we actually made it just over three years before Junior ‘happened.’ Do you know about how some families have unique magic that passes through the generations?”
Hermione answered, “Yes. I am curious about something. Could you draw and hold your wand?”
Alice did so. Catching on to what Hermione was curious about, she said, “Harry, try to cast a spell with my wand. You can trust us.”
Rather than a flash, the silvery stag poured out of the upraised tip of the wand. It said shyly, “I love you, god-mum” before nuzzling Alice’s ear and fading into her.
Alice replied, “I love you too, Harry. You were always happy to see me back in the day, Harry. Sometimes, you almost made your Mum jealous!”
Turning back to Hermione, Alice said, “In the case of the Longbottoms and Croakers, those families tended to have Soul Bond marriages much more frequently than other families. While Soul Bonds are not exclusive to our lines, they have happened frequently enough that our library at Longbottom Hall is probably the single greatest library in the world on the subject. It’s certainly the greatest one not owned by a government or major magical school.
“There’s far more ‘upside’ than not for Soul Bonds, but ‘every form of refuge has its price.’ Once Frank and I are up to receiving more company, we will need to meet your parents anyway, and sooner rather than later. If you go ahead with a Church wedding, it will be at your Parish rather than ours because of the time and timing, but we will want to help them and you with it if you would like?”
Hermione answered, “Of course I would! Mum and Dad were always better about ‘sending’ me to Mass than taking me, so I’m sure they will appreciate the help as well. You’ll need to let them feel like they’re in charge, though. They haven’t felt a lot of that with me, lately.”
Alice replied, “I understand. Who is your Bishop?”
Hermione replied, “Bishop Luke Mayhew.”
Alice said, “He was our Parish Priest when Frank and I were married.
“Those wizards who practice any form of Christianity tend to be mostly Catholic, followed by Ethiopian, Coptic, and Orthodox in that order. The Protestants were much fonder of murdering witches and wizards than the more established sects. They killed off mostly their own Muggle followers after believing false accusations, but they did get a real witch or wizard here and there. They very well may have sped up the adoption of the International Statute of Secrecy by a century or more.
“The Longbottoms managed to avoid Protestant notice while gaining Catholic favour, which is why we, along with the line of Ignotius Peverell, have the peerage ranking of Earl, and have had since the time of Charles the First.
“When Fleamont Potter re-established his claim to the peerage and “Most Ancient and Noble” status back in the 1930s, he relied more heavily on the Peverell claim than the equally valid claim for the Potter line. Thus, while Harry’s family name is ‘Potter,’ his house is ‘Peverell-Potter.’ The Wizengamot fought tooth and nail against Lord Fleamont, but he had the money. After the war, he was one of only five wizards to win both the Order of Merlin First Class and the Victoria Cross. This put paid to the blood-purists, and the Most Ancient and Noble House of Peverell-Potter was re-established. The other four wizards, by the way, were Albus Dumbledore, Charlus Potter, Septimus Weasley, and Herbert Longbottom, Neville’s grandfather.
“The Longbottoms and Potters both had been parishioners of Westminster Cathedral for several generations, despite our seats of power being in Kent and Somerset respectively. Lily Evans, unlike her sister, was a regular practitioner. James at least went through the motions to keep in Fleamont’s good graces, though Fleamont and Euphemia spoilt him something rotten.
“Back to the here and now, though. Since we know Bishop Mayhew, we can get the conversion process cleared up in a week instead of the modern conversion process, which takes up to a year or more. But that will depend on Neville honestly believing, and that is Neville’s decision alone. The biggest difference that will make will be that you would have a full Mass instead of just a ‘Service,’ as they do with mixed couples today. ‘Once upon a time,’ the Priest would not solemnise a mixed marriage in the Church at all. He would perform the ceremony in the Rectory or at some other location instead. They haven’t done things that way since the 1950s or so, so there isn’t the difference there used to be.”
Turning things to more secular subjects, Frank asked, “So I understand you just started apprenticing under Garrick Ollivander, Harry?”
Harry answered, “I have, Frank. I’ve only worked the one day so far, but it’s really interesting. I helped clean Alice’s wand, while she and you were still in them. I also helped watch the wands during a later stage of the process. When Ron and I had finished, the wands weren’t quite done yet, and we could barely feel the life in the wands starting to come back, at least I think it was the wands Ron and I felt, and not you?”
I interjected, “It was the wands, Harry. The wands felt like wands. While I’ll be sure to have Master Garrick teach both of us the difference, it’s something that Master Garrick was able to feel, after the wands were almost done with the reconditioning process.”
Harry continued, “I have a feel for the wands, Frank. I owe Master Garrick at least one genuine try at getting my Journeyman’s Card as a Wand-Crafter. Unless I work with Ron, though, I don’t think I’ll try running a shop. I don’t know if the UK has the ‘room’ for another shop, I don’t feel like moving elsewhere, and I won’t turf Ron out.”
He asked me silently, “Old Man, Professor Dumbledore’s wand is telling me ‘not yet.’ Why would it do this?”
I answered him through our bond, “Headmaster Dumbledore’s wand is not an ordinary wand. It was once a Peverell Heirloom, but it’s ‘left’ the family many centuries ago. The wand senses your blood, and wants to choose you. But it doesn’t want to leave Headmaster Dumbledore right away. Also, only ask him about the wand when it is just the two of us with him. There is a story behind that wand, and people must continue to forget that the story is true, along with the wand Dumbledore carries.”
“Ok, Old Man. You will tell me the story later, right?” he asked.
I nodded to him in answer.
Lunch concluded with the arrival of Frank and Alice’s Healer.
“It’s one o’clock, ladies and gentleman,” the Healer announced. “Senior Auror and Auror Longbottom need to rest for a while, now. In fact, they are mostly still here just to rest and recover their magic from being healed, and being in a form of magically induced coma for as long as they’ve been. Baring complications, they should be released tomorrow afternoon, though they will need to see a Mind Healer for at least two months; longer if they see the need.”
Harry and Neville guided Frank and Alice back to bed, though they needed to do the guiding far more than the elder Longbottoms needed guides. Each boy received a hug from their ‘adult’ as the elder Longbottoms got back into bed.
Croaker was the first to excuse himself. He asked, “May I accompany the two of you back to the Hall tomorrow?”
Frank answered, “I suppose so, Uncle Algernon. Aunt Enid will have other commitments, right?”
Croaker replied, “I’m sure she will. Once again, welcome back to the both of you. I’ll let you know tomorrow afternoon when your recovery ‘started,’ and how soon you will be ‘recovered.’ DOM Medical Section is still working on that.” Croaker vanished via his credentials.
Dad left next, after kissing Mum on the cheek. He said, “Thanks for having me over. And, don’t worry about Neville and Hermione. They’re well behaved and nice to have around. Harry’s even adopted her as his older sister. Haven’t a clue how they did it, really. But the magic took somehow.”
Frank answered, “You’re welcome, Arthur, and thank you for your hospitality on behalf of my kids.”
Dad spun in place, and was back to work.
Augusta was the next to leave, saying, “I’ll pop by around supper time or so to visit a while longer. It’s amazing after all these years to be able to visit with the two of you, and have you visit back.” Frank and Alice got out of bed again long enough to hug and kiss Augusta, before she walked out of the room.
Mum left next, saying, “Harry, if you can have Kreacher drop me off at the Rookery, and make whatever he and you decide for supper. I’ll have your Dad meet me at the Rookery. Unless they have other plans, we’ll be hosting Xeno and Pandora for supper at 6:00.”
We all hugged and kissed Mum, before Kreacher made himself visible.
The house-elf asked, “What would Young Master’s mother and Young Master want for supper?”
Mum answered, “I have two Capons, and some bread that I let dry for stuffing, along with potatoes and vegetables. A treacle tart or two for desert should also be good, along with rolls and a salad. Will six in the evening work for you?”
The house-elf answered, “Kreacher lives to serve. Young Master’s mother’s meal will be ready when Young Master’s family is ready to eat it.” Kreacher left, taking Mum with him.
We six bond-mates were alone with Frank and Alice. Frank said, “I wish we were there for you…”
Neville replied, “You were there, both of you, as much as you could be. I suppose that part of the memories your bodies held will come back to you, since you hadn’t completely left them. You will be there for me from now on, which is more important, anyway. Please don’t doubt that I love the both of you, and that I know you both love me.
“I also know that since you both love me, that you want me to continue accepting Harry and Ron’s hospitality for as long as they will have me and as long as I don’t become a burden. Don’t worry. I’ll see the two of you tomorrow. In the mean time, rest and reacquaint yourselves with each other.”
One more round of hugs and kisses followed, before we Portkeyed back to the Burrow.
§§§
As soon as the six of us were back in the kitchen, Harry said, “I’m guessing that Mum thought we might want to do something that went beyond the bedroom. How are all of you feeling?”
Hermione replied, “Horny enough, but no flying.”
“Spoilsport! JINX!” Harry and Ginny retorted in unison.
Harry continued, “I wasn’t thinking of that, since it is a little cooler today. Part of what the loser does might come to that, though.
“There’s a Muggle card game called ‘Twenty-one’ or ‘Blackjack’ that is easy enough to play as a stripping game. We would play as three couples instead of six individuals.
“The game is easy enough. It’s normally played against the person dealing, but we will rotate the deal with each hand and just play against each other. Each player receives a card face up and another one face down. The face cards are worth ten, the ace is either one or eleven, and the number cards are worth their number.
“To win the hand, you must get as close to twenty-one points as you can without going over twenty-one. After the first two cards are dealt, the dealer will go to each player in turn and offer cards, one at a time, until the player says they have enough.
“If you ‘lose,’ each person in your couple looses one piece of clothing. If you go over, each person looses two pieces of clothing. If two hands tie to win, each hand will receive one card, and the one who receives the higher card wins to break the tie. Sound good?”
Luna suggested, “Let’s try a hand or two before we actually start, so we have an idea what we’re doing. I’m guessing that only Neville hasn’t a clue, since you grew up Muggle, and Ron, Ginny, and I saw most Muggle card games at least indirectly when studying for our GCSEs.”
We played two hands for practice, and everyone understood the rules.
Luna said, “If you’re wearing a bra, it comes off with the undershirt. Otherwise, one piece of clothing. Ties count, but not belts or braces. Shoes and socks count as two. Also, the losers have to retrieve their clothing from Neville’s clearing after we all have sex, and before they will be allowed to shower and dress. Girls will undress your guy, and guys will undress your girl. Fair enough?”
Everyone agreed. This also left us with the same number of pieces of clothing.
Harry dealt the first hand. Ginny and he stayed on nineteen. Luna and I stayed on seventeen, and Neville and Hermione drew for a twenty-eight.
Harry quipped, “Hermione, no one had a ten or ace showing, except for your Queen. You only had twelve cards that would help you and a lot more that that wouldn’t.”
Hermione dealt the second hand. Ginny and Harry stayed on eighteen. Luna and I stayed on seventeen. Neville and Hermione drew for a twenty-four. They were now barefoot, Luna and I were in our stockings, and Harry and Ginny were still fully dressed.
Hermione asked, “Would you have stayed on fourteen, Harry?”
“Nope!” he replied. “I’d have stayed on eighteen, though.”
I dealt the third hand. Ginny drew for a twenty-three, Luna and I drew for a twenty-five, and Neville and Hermione stayed on seventeen. Harry and Ginny were two pieces of clothing down, and Luna and I had caught up with Neville and Hermione.
Harry extended his left foot to Hermione. He said, “It will be easier to have you remove it before I put my foot in my mouth again.
Instead of claiming the shoe, Hermione tickled Harry, and took his right sock before he recovered. Ginny let Neville remove her right sock, after Harry rolled it down to her ankle.
Ginny dealt the fourth hand. Harry drew for a twenty-two, Luna and I drew for a twenty-four, and Neville and Hermione drew for a twenty-eight. Harry and Ginny were now barefoot. The rest of us were also short our robes and ties.
Neville dealt the fifth hand. Ginny drew for a twenty-two. Luna and I drew for a seventeen. Neville and Hermione stayed on nineteen. Ginny and Harry lost their robes and ties. Luna and I removed our vests.
“’Bout time I was shut of that!” Harry exclaimed in relief.
“Don’t be so dramatic,’ Hermione chided as Neville removed her jumper vest.
“You’re just jealous that you can’t remove the ‘slingshot’ without showing anything,” he retorted.
This got a “humph” from Hermione as she removed Neville’s vest.
Luna dealt the sixth hand. Ginny and Harry stayed on seventeen. Neville and Hermione drew a nineteen. Luna and I had a natural twenty-one.
After Neville removed her shirt, she had him un-tuck her undershirt, and reach under at the back to unhook her. She drew her arms inside her undershirt, one at a time, and Neville pulled her bra out and set it with the rest of her clothes. She and Harry stuck out their tongues at each other.
Harry dealt the seventh hand. He and Ginny drew a twenty-two. Neville and Hermione drew a twenty-three. Luna and I drew a twenty-four. We removed each other’s trousers and skirts. All six of us were slightly “damp” in our own ways from the excitement.
Luna asked, “What if we tie again?”
This was a good question. Hermione and Ginny were down to their panties. Luna and Hermione had their t-shirts since Luna didn’t wear a bra, and Hermione had ditched hers. We guys were in our t-shirts and y-fronts.
Harry said, “We’ll think of something else. We might need to anyway, since it’s a quarter after two. Having the ‘thrill’ of ‘maybe’ getting caught is a lot more fun than doing something where you will. Mum and Dad have bent over backwards for us with all of this stuff. It would be mean and rude of us to actually embarrass them.”
Hermione dealt, and if it were possible, Luna had jinxed us. We all went over twenty-one, and finished stripping. We each removed our own tops and underpants in the centre of the circle one at a time, leaving them in a pile where we’d dealt the across just minutes earlier. We were all excited, despite having seen each other before frequently. We each “admired the view,” and were admired in turn.
Harry asked, “I should have thought about this before, but can anyone outside of the wards see us go between the Burrow and Hermione’s clearing?”
I answered, “Not really. The wards go up high enough that Rita Skeeter couldn’t fly that high as a beetle. Valentine was a fluke. From the ground, you can barely see the front of the house. Unless you’re keyed in, it’s almost as good as a Muggle Privacy Fence.”
Harry said, “Ok, since this is a tie, we’ll all put on our sandals and run out to Hermione’s clearing. We’ll take off each other’s sandals, bring our girls to mutual climax ‘in front,’ and run back after putting our sandals back on. The last couple back does the dishes; the second couple clears the table.”
Hermione replied, “Not quite, Harry. Neville and I will need a bit of a handicap. Neither of us is as fast as the rest of you, and my breasts flop if I run without a bra. Whoever is first, second, and third out to the clearing will keep track of that to make things fair.
“But the couples have to hold hands, there and back. After Ron and you take care of Ginny and Luna, you will give us a handicap by nailing each other in the clearing like you did him on your broom! If Ginny and Luna want to take care of themselves while waiting, that’s fine. Neville and I will be doing more than just watching you.”
Harry said, “Let’s try it.” Our sandals and a tube of ‘jelly’ appeared as our uniforms disappeared. We got “dressed,” and walked out of the kitchen door, holding hands as we went.
We lined up facing towards the path to the clearing. Harry picked up a rock.
He said, “I’ll throw this rock up in the air. When it lands, go.”
He threw the rock into the air. It landed, and off we ran.
It only took about three minutes or so to run out to the clearing. Streaking while holding hands made it much more exciting, and made the run seem longer. Neville and Hermione didn’t have nearly so hard of a time keeping up as they thought. They were only five seconds behind Luna and me. Ginny and Harry were almost half a minute faster than Luna and me. They were already naked, with their holsters and the ‘jelly’ sitting on top of their sandals, going at it like there was no tomorrow. I wasted no time in throwing privacy wards up around the rest of the clearing.
The rest of us removed our sandals, and joined them, combining affection and lust as best we could. Luna and I were going slowly, but she was also “clinching” as hard as she could, and I was also going hard against her g-spot and “button” as I went. We built up to a mutual climax without realizing that we had synched up with Harry and Ginny. When we all climaxed in unison, Luna and I almost fainted.
As our heads cleared, we quickly realized that Harry and Ginny were taking care of “both doors.” Ginny was shouting encouragement to Harry, which I decided to ‘tune out.’
Luna said, “Be a dear, and summon the ‘jelly.’ We’ll be here a while longer. After I get a dab for us, toss it to Hermione. If she’s the only girl not bent over when we run back, she’ll feel left out.”
I summoned the ‘jelly’, and noticed that the cap wasn’t snapped on. Luna added, “She likes it in back just as much as he does, so they probably fingered some in as foreplay.”
I put some on the tips of her fingers and the palm of her hand, before tossing the tube to Neville. I was slow entering Luna. Judging by the gasped “OGOWHD!” Neville wasn’t.
Luna and I came to a mutual climax “hands-free” in about five minutes, kissing passionately as we went. The shout of “TREVOR!” less than half a minute later told us of Hermione and Neville’s progress.
Ginny and Harry climaxed right after that, and Luna and I did faint for a moment from the feedback. Once we all collected our breaths, Harry traded places with Ginny on the towel that had showed up in the clearing before we had gotten there.
Harry told me, “You’d better nail me good, Old Man! Otherwise, I’ll put an Engorgio on mine after you sit on it.”
I had a feeling that Harry and I would be doing the dishes tonight. So, I decided to make the best of it.
I asked, “Have you heard Ike and Tina Turner’s cover of ‘Proud Mary,’ Brat?”
“I’m hearing it now, Old Man,” he answered.
As I kissed his feet and rested his ankles on my shoulders, I said, “That’s how I’m giving it to you, Brat. Nice and easy, followed by nice, and rough.”
As I caressed lovingly between his cheeks, I started singing to him.
Left a good job in the city
Working for the Man ev’ry night and day
But I never lost one minute of sleeping
Worryin’ ‘bout the way things might have been
Big wheels keep on turnin’
Proud Mary Keep on burnin’
Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ on the river… 1
He joined in singing as I fingered the ‘jelly’ in to both him and me, and lubed him up to be ready.
I entered him “nice and easy,” as I said I would. I got “rough” after he was “warmed up.” I nailed him as hard as I could, while we both continued to sing “Proud Mary,” even making up new verses as we went.
We barely finished climaxing together before I tucked my ankles under his bum. As I ran out of his bum and onto my ankles, I got on him and rode him like a demented carousel horse.
It’s just as well that we were still as horny as we were, and climaxed quickly. Even with alternating between slow and fast singing, and even making up another verse here and there, “Proud Mary” isn’t exactly War and Peace or The Iliad.
We both realized at the same time that we needed to go. We went to the very edge of the clearing and squatted facing each other while holding hands. I could feel myself blush even though I was not facing the others.
Harry said, “It happens sometimes.”
Hermione retorted, “It’s about time it happened to the two of you. The same time you had your Patronus make faces at me, we finished with me on my hands and knees, with my legs together and Neville straddling. I went down the back of my legs and it landed on the back side of my knees! If Neville hadn’t already learned Aguamenti, I’d probably still be out here too embarrassed to come back to the Burrow.”
Sensing we both were done, I banished the mess, and hit our bums with a warmed wandless Aguamenti and a drying charm rather than use leaves or the flannels for that.
Neville and the girls had decided to get at least somewhat cleaned up before going back up to the Burrow. There were now three pans instead of the one. We rotated through taking warm soapy wand-showers and drying off.
Ginny said, “We’ll need to shower out here once more. It’s only a quarter past three, so we’ve got time to eat each other. We girls will go first, then we’ll have you conjure stools for us to sit on when it’s our turn.”
They knelt before us, and took us in their mouths, while we looked through each other’s eyes. We barely lasted five minutes.
Ginny said, “Now, it’s your turn. Conjure us three stools, about ‘this’ high for us to sit on.”
She basically wanted three bar stools, so that was what she got.
The girls each got up on a stool. They tossed the ‘jelly’ back and forth, and lubed the soles of their feet. We guys figured it out without the girls having to “connect the dots.”
Ginny made Harry rest his hands on her knees. They barely lasted a minute, and she climaxed first. Luna and I held hands. We lasted three minutes, but we weren’t in that big of a hurry. Hermione wasn’t that coordinated, but Neville didn’t care. They lasted two minutes before climaxing together. Neville had to hold her feet and thrust. But his tongue was the most limber between the three of us guys, and he got the job done for both. He also followed our example and kissed his way up from her feet to her mouth.
It was five to four before we were cleaned up again. Hermione said, “We’ll clear the table and help wash up. Just don’t lose too much track of the time walking back. You’ll need time to help Ginny and Luna in the shower, especially Ginny.”
Ginny added, “Luna and I’ll set your sandals up in the bedroom. Don’t dawdle, but don’t rush too much, either.”
Neville and the girls took off at a jog. Whichever house-elf was minding things took care of everything else. Harry and I walked back toward the Burrow, holding hands, and wearing only our holsters and wristwatches.
Harry said, “At least we had sex before they ‘got pushy’.”
“How so,” I asked.
“I’ve been kinda nervous about the ‘church stuff’ with Neville and Hermione. I didn’t know how to even talk about it with you, much less Neville. So, Ginny and Luna got me even hornier than normal, had me have a great time, had a great time themselves, and dumped me off to talk to you about it and get my head around it better. Ginny has ‘curtained off’ her end, but I bet she and Luna are talking to Hermione and Neville right now. They’re easy enough to talk too.
“See, I don’t want to tell Neville and Hermione how to live, and I’m beyond happy for them. But, my experience with ‘church stuff’ isn’t quite the best, even without us having a sexual relationship with each other, which would have the Vicar in Little Whinging eating fire and shitting brimstones. I can also feel you feeling uneasy when it comes up.”
I explained, “Harry, no one is perfect. So, don’t be too quick to judge. There are many people in many walks of life, who say that the rules are for everyone else, but not for them. There are also people who follow the rules, but crow so loudly about it that it doesn’t make that big of a difference.
“According to the bible and Church teachings, any sexual act that is not the act that can get a girl pregnant, or any act other than with your already-married-to-you spouse born of the opposite gender is wrong. Even masturbating is seen as wrong. They allow oral sex as foreplay only, providing you actually climax only during vaginal sex. I am uneasy for us because by the time either of us had a clue what kind of relationship we had stumbled into, we were already bound to it. Unlike other people, we really don’t have any choice except to share our bodies with each other.
“In my first lifetime, the Church rules actually weren’t a problem for me. After that Hermione and I married, I didn’t really want to do anything like that unless I was sharing it with her. And we were both much more about cherishing and pleasing each other than being particularly adventurous during sex. While we both went down on each other, masturbated each other, and even had anal sex together a few times, we just didn’t do it much beyond trying it, and even then it was more curiosity than anything else. Of course, I was also the one bringing Hugo and Rose with me to Confession and Mass, taking them to CCD classes and so on, all the while being polite with the Pastor and finding new ways to avoid telling him to ask Hermione directly why she wasn’t at Mass with the rest of us.
“During my second lifetime, I fell out of practicing the Faith, but didn’t have any particular issues either. In that lifetime, the war, or at least my personally being in mortal peril, started out on the Hogwarts Express. By the time that Daphne and I first had sex, I hadn’t even masturbated. Had I gone back to attending Mass regularly, Daphne would have had more problems than I would have. We weren’t all that adventurous, either.
“I just think that you’ve had too much garbage dumped on you for me to not be nervous about religion. While you had things much rougher than I did, I had to sit back and do nothing for you directly, since there truly was nothing I could do for you directly that would actually help instead of making things worse…”
Harry hugged and kissed me passionately. Once we broke the kiss, he said, “That is just a small part of why I will always love you, Ron.
“If you want, we can talk to Hermione’s Bishop. If he has an answer that does not involve waiting for the ‘zombie sex’ to come back, or us being glued together under pain of torture or the like, we’ll hear him out.
“As for Neville and Hermione, that’s up to them, and we’ll both need to remind them that. Neville’s my friend and brother, and Hermione’s my friend and sister, and that we love them both. They share our bed and join in with our ‘dare games’ because they want to. They can stay or not, whichever they want. Providing they aren’t jerks about it, or blaming us for their hang-ups, it really doesn’t bother me either way. Ginny and Luna are ‘stuck’ with us; Hermione and Neville aren’t, at least not in the same way.
“I’m sure they won’t be jerks, though. If they would be, we’d have already seen it. We just need to let them know that if they both want to go with or stay with that church, that it’s fine with us. Just so long as they don’t rub it in our faces, or blame us for their failings,
“Besides that, I think that if there is a God, that he’s much smarter than us, and that if he doesn’t like what we’re doing that he will show us at least one different way that doesn’t actually involve torturing other people or causing others to die. I’ve never heard of a Saint being made one for torturing and killing others. Jesus also stopped the Pharisees from killing the adulteress, simply telling her to go and sin no more.
“If we try to break this bond of ours, we risk killing each other as well as ourselves. If we wait for the ‘zombie sex’ or lock ourselves away or something, we’re hurting each other along with Ginny and Luna as well as ourselves, too. Muggle gays don’t deal with that, and neither do most wizarding ones.
“And if I understand what you learned about Dumbledore, I don’t think he is all that good an example, either. Anything you would do to Gellert Grindelwald is not something you would do to a family member or friend, and you are both to me as well as a lover. If I tried that shite with you, Luna would kill me. If you tried it with me, Ginny would kill the both of us!
“And you’re also right about not blaming the Catholics for the Church of England and vice versa. And in their defence, the Church of England was my optometrist until quite recently; and there are only so many bad things you can say about someone if you only see them twice a year.” He giggled slightly as he said the last of that.
It was now 4:30. I picked Harry up “bridal style.” and carried him into the house.
§§§
Dad and Mum came in precisely at 6:00. We had just over forty-five minutes of “nude-wife’s-hair” brushing before our clothes arrived in the living room and we got dressed. Kreacher, who was actually watching the house and taking care of us “solo,” had managed to do all the appearing and disappearing of stuff for us and take care of a moderately fancy meal at the same time. Mipsy had even shown him how to keep our tokkuri hot, and to let it stay empty long enough for us to realize that we had finished it before refilling it. Kreacher could have also served dinner at 6:00, but he held it until we had seated ourselves around the table at four past the hour.
We talked casually around the table while we ate. When we finished dessert, Kreacher cleared the table and left tea for Mum, Brazilian Limeade for the girls and tokkuri for Dad and us boys. Mum surprised us by letting Kreacher get on with it without a fuss. Mum explained, “Some work is nicer than other work. While your Dad and I do not want to know the details, we haven’t been leaving the house thinking you were playing exploding snap. We’ve yet to come home to find the lot of you still carrying on and there hasn’t been a mess either.
“Just remember to be nice to those who are your social inferiors, as well as your peers and ‘betters.’ Also, don’t forget how to mind after yourselves. The social ladder runs both ways, and sometimes a rung or two will break on you.” That was good for a round of hugs and kisses from all of us.
We excused ourselves at 7:15 because we were tired, and wanted to go to sleep early. We still had a full day lined up for Friday. We were picking up our formal wear for the Dursleys’ Memorial Service in Little Whinging Saturday morning, and the funeral service itself in the village of Dursley later that day. We also needed to visit Number 12 Grimmauld Place for lunch, and would accompany Frank and Alice home to Longbottom Hall Friday Afternoon. Even wearing casual clothes and sandals, we would be fairly busy. We set food and fresh water down for our familiars, and went upstairs to bed.
We were starkers as soon as the door latched, and in bed together almost as fast. Neville asked, “So which one of you two ambushed the other while Ginny and Luna ambushed Hermione and me.”
Harry replied, “We both did, Neville. Since it was bothering you, and maybe still is, we did need to talk.
“I don’t want to make Hermione and you uncomfortable around me. The both of you mean too much to me to do that. Ron doesn’t want anyone making me feel bad, either. He knew what I was going though with the Dursleys, and was utterly powerless to help me until we met at King’s Cross. So, he tends to get his back up really quickly if things go sideways.
“If you want to look into catching back up with your Sacraments, go for it. Ron said that he and I would talk to Hermione’s Bishop too, just in case there was some loophole where we wouldn’t have to have our Soul Bond broken, or live on different continents or something like that. We all need something bigger than us to believe in.
“Just don’t make Ron and me feel like shite if it works for you, but not for us. If you want to sleep in the same bed like we’ve been, or have sex at the same time or the other stuff we’ve done, no problem. If you stop just because it isn’t right for Hermione and you anymore, no problem there, either. We can work it out if it comes to that so we aren’t doing it at the same time and place.
“Most of me knows that Ron and I have no reason to worry. But part of me is still locked in the cupboard beneath the stairs, wearing shoes to bed that don’t fit, and waiting for the axe to fall. I’m sorry…”
Hermione and Neville managed to shift around Luna and me, and were both holding and hugging Harry. Once he was calm again, they switched back to their places.
Hermione said, “No worries, Harry. We’re here because we like being here, we like you, and we need to be with you just as much as you need us. That won’t change, and we won’t dump you, or Ron, or Ginny, or Luna.
“I’ve masturbated at least three times per week since I turned eleven. The Religious Education teachers didn’t even cover that until Confirmation class, so I didn’t know it was wrong. I have confessed it to the Priest. He may have made me say more prayers in penance, but he didn’t throw me out of the Church or anything like that. Priests aren’t even allowed to say anything about what you confess to them, ever.
“They want you to do what’s right, but they aren’t looking to destroy you the very minute you fail. And like you said, Ron’s and your situation is not what they usually see, not even wizarding priests. They will have to figure it out just like you will. And, except for catching your man being pleasured by two other men, Mum and Dad have done everything else Neville and I have done at least once, and that’s just what I’ve caught them at.
“So, don’t worry. We won’t betray your trust in us,” she finished.
“Thanks, sis…” he answered as he fell asleep. The rest of us soon followed.
1. Proud Mary, John Fogerty, 1967. Fogerty owns it again. And Vantz still Can't Dantz.
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Third Time's a Soul Bond?