• 1-Chapter One.
• 2-Chapter Two.
• 3-Chapter Three.
• 4-Chapter Four.
• 5-Chapter Five.
• 6-Chapter Six.
• 7-Chapter Seven.
• 8-Chapter Eight.
• 9-Chapter Nine.
• 10-Chapter Ten.
• 11-Chapter Eleven.
• 12-Chapter Twelve.
• 13-Chapter Thirteen.
• 14-Chapter Fourteen.
• 15-Chapter Fifteen.
• 16-Chapter Sixteen
• 17-Chapter Seventeen
• 18-Chapter Eighteen
• 19-Chapter Nineteen

As the rest of the holidays passed, the two young men joined in on the celebrations with the staff and the other students staying at the castle. They were deeply saddened, as was everyone else who knew of what happened, and they couldn’t help but think that they could have, should have, prevented this from happening in some way. Neither of them had any clue as to what they should have done, but both were sure it was their fault.

Severus and Lucius, mostly Lucius, went on with their lives and forgot that Draco and Harry had been involved at all. Severus, occasionally, would let his mind wander to them and wonder why he had let them go. Then Lucius would snap him out of it with another bout of fantastic sex. As the days for the new semester drew nearer, he began to wonder why he and Lucius had ever split, instead of trying to figure out why he had left his two young lovers.

Albus watched Draco and Harry with sad eyes as they tried to put on a brave face for everyone and mentally sighed every time they forced a laugh or a smile. He had to make this up to them somehow, he just could not figure out how. Then, an idea came to him.

The main reason why they had been putting off the bonding was because technically Draco was under age. But that only applied where Severus was involved. Because Harry and Draco were near the same age, Harry was also a student, and legally they were old enough to marry, he could offer them a bonding as soon as possible. Severus, being Draco’s professor, had been the only thing preventing the bonding from going on before Draco’s 18th birthday. Now that he was, sadly, out of the picture, Draco and Harry could bond at any time.

Excitedly, he pulled out some blank parchment and a quill and ink then wrote the two boys a note asking them to meet him in his office at their earliest convenience. He may not have been able to prevent their misfortune and heartache, but he could most definitely try to make up for it. Albus sent his phoenix, Fawkes, with the letter to the boys and hoped they wouldn’t be too against his idea, thinking he was just meddling again. His had their best interests at heart.

Draco and Harry were sitting on the couch in the living room area of their quarters when Fawkes appeared. Draco jumped slightly, having never seen the phoenix appear out of thin air before, and Harry just sat there and looked at the bird strangely for a moment before sighing and taking the scroll from his leg.

“What’s this about, Fawkes?” he said resignedly.

The phoenix just sang a haunting song before popping out the room in a burst of fire.

“Well, that settles that,” Draco said sarcastically.

Harry shook his head in amusement at his lover and sat down again then unrolled the scroll as Draco moved closer to read it with him. What they read worried them slightly because it gave no information and they could not possibly imagine what the Headmaster wanted to see them about.

“At our earliest convenience?” Draco said with a snort, “What, does he think our social calendars are just bursting with appointments?”

His lover rolled his eyes and sighed, “No, that just his way of saying ‘get your arses up here now’. You know how he is.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Well, let’s go see what he wants, shall we?”

The blonde nodded and they left their rooms, locking the door behind them. The trek up to the Headmaster’s office was uneventful, though a few students and professors said hello to them as they passed. When they reached the gargoyle, they both realized he had not told them the password.

“Just like the old coot to forget to tell us how to get in,” Draco said under his breath.

However, just as he finished his sentence, the gargoyle sprang to life, opening to show the moving staircase behind it. Harry shrugged and grabbed Draco’s hand, pulling him along with him as he ascended the stairs. The door swung open as they reached the top and they looked in to see Dumbledore sitting behind his desk pouring some tea.

“Ahh, boys. Tea?”

Draco looked at him strangely and Harry sighed again, pulling his lover over to the two chairs in front of the Headmaster’s desk.

“What did you want to see us about, sir?”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like some tea? Perhaps a lemon drop?”

“Fine, we’ll have some bloody tea,” Draco said in exasperation.

“Draco,” Harry hissed and nodded his head to the Headmaster.

Two teacups appeared in front of them and he poured their tea, adding milk and sugar as they liked it before he began speaking.

“Now, I know the two of you are upset,” he began. Draco snorted and ignored the look Harry was shooting him. “I don’t blame you for taking it out on me, or anyone else, for that matter. But, I feel I may have a sort of a solution.”

At this, the blonde looked up and eyed him suspiciously while Harry looked on with dubious curiosity, “What do you mean a sort of solution?”

Albus sighed, “Remember, in the beginning when the three of you came to me to ask about a bonding?” The two of them winced at the mention of Severus and the bonding but nodded anyhow, “And you remember why I said you had to wait?” Draco was catching on quicker than Harry, who had a confused look on his face that the blonde thought was just adorable. Draco nodded for him to continue, “Harry would you like a reminder?”

“Er…yes, please. A lot has happened since then and I’m not sure I’m catching on,” he said quietly in embarrassment.

Draco snickered and teased Harry, “Nothing unusual, then.”

Harry smacked him playfully and motioned for Albus to continue. The old man nodded and went on, “Well, the thing is that I originally asked you to wait because, even though Draco is old enough to bond, Severus was his professor and that meant he, at least, had to wait until he was 18. You would have still been 17 in the spring, no?” At the raven-haired young mans’ nod he continued, “Therefore, with Severus out of the picture,” he mentally winced at his phrasing, “the two of you no longer have to wait to be bonded, should you still wish to be, that is. To each other, of course,” he added.

The blonde, who was already ware of what had just been said, began to think about what he wanted. Originally, Harry was the only person he wanted to bond to in the first place. And after Severus, why should that have changed? Why wouldn’t he still want to bond to Harry? He loved him more than anything and the fact that Harry was hurting just as much as he was from what Severus did but was trying to be stoic and be there for him regardless, made him love the other much more.

Harry was also thinking about this, but in his mind, there was absolutely no question as to whether or not he would do it. He had only realized his love for Severus when he went to save him and, truth be told, said love was fading fast after how he abandoned them and hurt Draco. The worst part was that he had left them for Draco’s father and Harry knew that was hurting his lover more than if it had been any other man that Severus had left them for. He felt that they were better off without him; they had started out without him and they would end without him, nothing would now change that.

They looked to each other in silent conversation for a while, just gauging how each of them was taking this news and the possibility that the bonding could still happen, and even sooner than before. As if coming to a conclusion without speaking, they both nodded and turned back to Albus who was beaming at the proudly. They needed to do this, for themselves. Wasn’t it what they wanted to do anyhow before any of this had come about? Plus, once it was done, there was no way Severus could try to apologize or get them back. The only way he could have been included in the bond was to be there and participate when it was being done; you cannot add another bond mate once the bond is in place and for some reason this thought also comforted them.

“When?” Draco asked as Harry nodded.

“When would you like?” The Headmaster said knowingly.

“As soon as possible,” Harry said then Draco added, “How soon can you perform it?”

Albus chuckled at their eagerness, “Now, I know I suggested this, but I don’t want you to rush into it thinking it’s going to make everything better or solve your problems. My main reason for informing you of this fact was so you would know that, should you still want to bond, you wouldn’t have to wait until Draco’s birthday.” The boys nodded as they reached for each other’s hands, “You still want to go through with this as soon as possible, then?” Again, they nodded, “Very well. It’s,” he looked to the clock on his desk to check the time, “just around lunch now. How about you come to see me after dinner and we can discuss this more once I’ve settled a few things, gotten some more information and whatnot, and the two of you have had time to think about and discuss this a little more with each other.”

“Sir, we know what we want. Nothing’s going to ch-“

Albus cut Harry off, “I’m aware. However, this is not something you want to rush into. I know the two of you love each other very much but I would still like you to think about it and discuss it before you make a definite decision. Ok?”

They both nodded, “Good. I shall see you after the evening meal, then.”

Draco and Harry left the office, hand in hand, to go back to their room and think everything he had said over. Once they were gone, he sat back and sighed. There was so much to organize if they decided they really wanted to do this, not that there was any doubt in his mind that they would, and he better get started if he wanted to have everything ready for them when they got back to his office later.

Nodding with finality, he pulled out some more parchment and penned a quick missive to the Ministry requesting the proper paperwork for a bonding, as well as information and materials, and asked that it be delivered before dinner if it was possible. When he was finished, he rolled it up and called over Fawkes to tie it to his leg and send him off to deliver it. Now all he had to do was wait. Within a few hours, everything was delivered to him so he opened the package and looked through it all, filling in the necessary things and making sure everything was in order; he just hoped the boys would make the right decision.

Down in their quarters Harry and Draco were snuggled up on the couch in front of the fire with hot mugs of cocoa as they talked about the bonding.

“Is this what you really want, love?” Harry asked softly.

Draco looked at him with eyes full of love and smiled, nodding slightly, “More than anything I’ve ever wanted before. Plus, you know I’ve always gotten what I want, no matter what it is. I want this…” He paused the started again hesitantly, “Is it what you want?”

“Of course it is!” Harry pulled him close and kissed him gently, “There’s nothing I want more.”

They kissed for a few more minutes, wrapping around each other and writhing slowly and the kiss turned heated. Eventually they pulled back and looked at each other, rubbing their noses and cheeks together gently.

“So we’re doing this?” Harry whispered.

Draco nodded and smiled, “Yeah, we’re doing this.”

“When do you want to do it?”

The blonde started kissing his neck, talking in between nips, sucks, licks and kisses, “As soon as he’s ready to perform the rite.”

Harry moaned and let his head fall back to give Draco more access to his throat, “Sounds good to me.”

“Mmm,” Draco mumbled as he continued his task, only stopping when Harry pulled his face up to kiss him passionately. “Harry, I think it’s about time for dinner, love.”

“Uh huh,” he said as he kissed down Draco’s jaw.

“Harry.”

“What?”

“Dinner.”

Harry sighed and untangled himself from his lover then stood and straightened out his clothing, “Do I look presentable?”

Draco snorted, “You never look presentable with that hair and those clothes, but you look no worse than usual.”

The raven-haired young man smacked him on his arm for his insult, “Ow,” he said as Harry mock glared at him feigning a hurt look. They both broke out into laughter and kissed softly before leaving the room to go up to the Great Hall for dinner. During the meal they both sat silently as they ate, smiling to each other every once in a while as they held hand under the table. Albus watched them with a secret smile, knowing he had done the right thing by mentioning the bonding to them.

When dinner was finished Harry and Draco followed Albus out of the Great Hall and up into his office where they took seats in front of his desk as they held hands. Once they were settled he pulled out a large folder and took the parchments out of it, handing them to the boys.

“These are the contracts, if you will. The paperwork required to register for a bond.” When he saw the looks on their faces he chuckled and went on, “Don’t worry, boys. The only thing that has to be done is they need to be filled out and sent in after the ritual is complete; nothing more. I took the liberty of filling out what I could so you would not have to worry about it, but there are some things I cannot fill in. You also have to sign the documents, both before and after you bond. Do you understand this all?”

Both of them nodded as they looked over the parchments in their hands. He handed them quills and they spent about 30 minutes going through everything and filling in the spots where the Headmaster had not been able to answer for them. When they were through they looked back up at him with eager, questioning glances.

“Sir,” Harry said, “what exactly happens during the bonding ritual and how soon can it be performed?”

Albus laughed, “Well, you’ve finished as much of the paperwork as you can until after the ritual, so we can perform it as soon as the two of you are ready. As for what happens, it is really quite simple. The two of you should think of simple vows to say describing how you feel, this cements the bond further. During the ritual I will act as officiator and all I will do is invoke the incantations, bind your arms with cords, bless your union and your rings, and pronounce you bonded.”

“Rings…” Harry said anxiously.

“Oh my!” Albus said forgetfully, “I meant to give these to you when you were here earlier. Silly me.” He pulled a small velvet pouch out of his drawer and handed it to Harry.

The young man upended it over his hand and gasped when two platinum bands fell out. He looked up questioningly at the Headmaster and the old man smiled. Harry looked them over carefully, noticing they had a lion and a snake coiled on the outside of the band and their names on the inside.

“What…?” Draco said as he looked as well.

“I knew the two of you might want to go through with the bonding regardless of what happened. I had those commissioned previously for your boding anyhow but had them altered seeing as there is only the two of you involved. I thought you might like to use them.”

The blonde nodded and Harry’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you,” he whispered softly as he ran his fingers over the bands lovingly, “Thank you so much.”

Draco pulled his lover close and comforted him as the tears fell then looked to the Headmaster with a grateful look on his face. That man would never know just how much Draco appreciated his effort in the past few months to make them as comfortable and happy as possible. He kissed Harry on his temple and held him until he was through.

“It was nothing, boys. I just want you two to be as happy as possible. Nothing would make me happier than to see the two of you bonded and happy for many years to come,” he said contentedly.

When both had calmed, mostly Harry, they went back to discussing the ritual of bonding, “So you see it really is quite simple. Just let me know when you would like to do it and we will.”

Harry thought for a moment, “Well, the students get back in a few days and tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. I would like to ring in the New Year with Draco as my bonded….Would it be possible to do it tomorrow afternoon?”

“I suppose it would…”

Draco cut him off, “How about now?”

Both of them looked at him curiously then Albus nodded, “If Harry would also be satisfied we could do it now.”

Harry nodded and Albus clapped his hands, “Excellent. Return to your rooms and you will find the ceremonial robes hung in your wardrobes. After you bathe and dress, meet me back here in one hour and we’ll perform the ritual, how does that sound?”

The two young men beamed and nodded, promising to return in one hour dressed and ready. Harry left the rings on the edge of Albus’ desk and he put them in his pocket for later when they would be needed. Once they left he went about preparing for everything that would need to be done. He went into a room behind his desk and cleared a space to hold the ritual. It would take a lot of energy and magic to bond the two young men so they would need a fairly large space. Albus drew a protective circle in runes on the floor and went back into his office to wait for them to return; everything else would have to wait until they were present.

Draco and Harry went back to their quarters and found the robes, which were beautiful, and took their time getting ready. While each of them showered separately, they had decided it would be best since they would be bonded within a few hours, they figured out in their heads what their spoken vows would be to each other. A five minutes to the hour they knocked on the Headmaster’s door and he bade them to enter.

“Ahh, are we ready?” When they nodded he motioned them behind his desk, “Follow me.”

Once they were inside the room he explained to them how to bow to the four corners (north, east, south and west) once they were in the circle of runes. When that was done the three of them stood in the center, Harry and Draco side by side with Albus standing in front of them. The ritual began.

“I call upon the elements and the four corners to bless the joining of Harry James Potter and Draco Lucius Malfoy. Their love is strong and true and they no man but each other. Hear me now and bond them for all eternity.”

Harry and Draco smiled and took hands as Albus continued, “They have suffered much and loved well throughout the many years they’ve known each other and ask now that they be granted the joy of becoming one with each other.”

He pulled out two cords, one green wrapped with silver and one red wrapped with gold, “These cords represent each of your powers, strengths, love, bodies, minds and souls. By binding your left arms together with each cord it will represent how your souls and magic bond with each other, therefore joining you for eternity.”

They nodded and he proceeded to hold their arms together, palm to palm, then bind them with the cord. Once he was done he smiled at them and took out the rings, saying a blessing over them then handing one to Harry. Each was to say their vows to the other before placing the ring on their finger. Harry nodded and looked to Draco lovingly.

“Draco, we’ve known each other for almost half ours lives but we never really knew each other until this year. I’m so glad I have you because I never thought I would ever be loved as much as you love me. You are my life and I promise to love you for all eternity no matter what happens. I swear no one will part us.”

He slipped the ring on Draco’s finger and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Albus handed the other ring to Draco who smiled shyly and looked into Harry’s eyes as he spoke his vows.

“Harry, even when neither of us realized it you were always there for me. You saved my life in more ways than one and for that you have my adoration and thanks forever. Looking back on the years before we really knew each other I can see, at least for myself, that I always loved you. There has never been anyone but you in my eyes. My whole life has revolved around you from the day I was born. No matter your name, Potty, St. Potter, Scarhead, Boy-Who-Lived, Boy Wonder or Gryffindor Golden Boy, you will always be my just Harry. You are my life and I promise to love you for all eternity no matter what happens. I swear no one will part us.”

Draco slipped the ring onto Harry’s finger and kissed his cheek. They both looked to Albus, who had tears brimming in his eyes, waiting for him to move on to the next part. He sniffed and pulled out his wand.

“I bless thee, Harry and Draco, in your union. May you have many have days, months and years together. It is my wish, and my will, that you never have to suffer heartache again. You will always have each other to help you through the hard times; no man, woman or beast can change that or break it apart.” He tapped the cords with his wand and muttered the incantation to bind them, “Consero.”

The cords dissolved, seemingly, into their skin and they were enveloped by a bright silver and gold glow. The two colors seemed to swirl around each other and join to become a mixed glow which then sunk into their bodies and caused them to take in a sharp breath at the feeling. Knowing the boys would wonder what had just happened, Albus decided to explain it to them, but not before he finished the ritual.

“You are now bound, mind, body, magic and spirit. Live long and love well, boys. You may kiss, if you like,” he said with a chuckle.

Draco and Harry leaned in and kissed briefly, the overwhelming feeling of heightened senses making them moan softly at the barest touch of lips. Almost immediately they could sense each other’s presence and feel each other’s thoughts. Albus had also failed to inform them that they would have a mind link, but he would get to that as well once they were comfortably back in his office.

“You’re now bound, my boys. Shall we have some tea and biscuits?”

He walked back into his office with the two of them following and sat at his desk to pour some tea. Harry and Draco resumed their earlier spots but felt it near impossible to not be touching each other in some way so they continued to hold hands. When Albus noticed he smiled and laughed to himself.

“Ahh, yes, the bond is so fresh that it won’t let you separate. I wouldn’t worry, you should be able to be on different sides of the castle within a few weeks. Until then you will have to stay near each other. Touching, even simple handholding, will make it much easier. Each day you will be able to part from each other farther and longer, but you will always long to be near each other, no matter what. Oh, and you share a mind link. Yes, I forgot to mention that earlier.”

The boys nodded but were not surprised he had held that piece of information back from them. It would not have changed their minds had he told them ahead of time, but they were happy to know now. They once again began to wonder what the glow was.

“Headmaster, the glow…?” Draco said inquiringly.

“Oh, blast I keep forgetting things. The glow was your magic combining. Draco’s is silver and Harry’s is gold. Quite cliché if you ask me,” he smiled when Harry snickered and Draco smirked, “When it swirled together it was your magic blending. Then it sank back into your bodies combined. So you see, you are now fully linked to each other. You share a mind bond, a magic bond, and I daresay you’ve shared a soul bond for quite some time.”

Both nodded and when Harry yawned Draco decided it was time for them to retire, “Thank you so much for everything, Headmaster. I can’t begin to tell you how happy we are and how grateful to you we are. We have both been waiting for this for some time and I’m glad we finally did it.”

“Me too,” Harry said sleepily then yawned.

Draco and Albus both chuckled at this and the blonde put his arm around his new husband’s waist to guide him from the room, “We shall see you tomorrow, Headmaster. I’m sure you’ll understand if we’re not at breakfast,” he said with a smirk.

The old wizard nodded and bid them goodnight. They went back to their rooms and stripped down to go to bed. Harry was dead tired but the minute he saw Draco without his clothes on he woke up completely.

“Come here, you,” he said huskily.

“Harry, I thought you were tired.”

“Oh, I was, but you never finished what you started earlier and now I want you.”

Draco could feel the lust pouring off his lover in waves and gasped at the feeling. He pulled him close and crushed their lips together in a fierce, passionate kiss. They fell back onto the bed with Draco half-lying on top of Harry, writhing against each other as the kiss heated up.

The blonde kissed down Harry’s chest and stomach, stopping to pay special attention to his hard cock, giving it a few swipes with his tongue then taking it into his mouth fully. Harry moaned as Draco’s mouth worked wonders. His hand slid into the blonde hair as Draco’s fingers began to circle his entrance slowly. He blindly reached into the drawer beside the bed and pulled out a small vial of oil then fumblingly handed it to Draco who accepted it with a quiet chuckle and coated his fingers.

Harry was lovingly prepared and when Draco finally moved back up his body to kiss him he was beyond ready to feel the one he loved inside him once more. He pulled Draco between his legs then pulled his hips flush against him and thrust up, letting his bonded know he was ready for more. They kissed for a few more heated moments then Draco positioned himself at Harry’s entrance.

Slowly he began to enter Harry, stopping every few seconds to allow him to adjust. When he was inside him fully he stopped until Harry’s hips bucked up telling him to move. He leaned in once more and captured Harry’s lips in a searing kiss as they began to move together, the bond heightening their union to the point that they were not sure where one of them ended and the other began. The sensations were overwhelming and it almost caused them to climax immediately.

Draco pulled back from the kiss and whispered against Harry’s lips, “Gods, I love you so much, Harry. I’m so glad you’re finally mine.”

Harry smiled, “I’ve always been yours. Only yours. I love you too, Draco.”

Draco groaned and thrusted harder, making Harry throw his head back and moan. He bent his head to lavish attention to the exposed throat while reaching his hand between them to stroke Harry’s cock in time with his thrusts. In no time at all they were reaching their peak, crying out each other’s names and telling each other how in love they were. They fell asleep in a tangle of limbs and blankets, finally content that something went right for them.

Back in Wiltshire, at the moment Draco and Harry were bound, Severus jerked where he sat with a strange look on his face. Lucius asked him what was wrong and he waved it off, telling him it was nothing. But he had a strange feeling that he had just lost something forever. Something he could never get back. He would go back to Hogwarts in two days to get ready for Monday classes and the new semester, but now, and he had no idea why, he was dreading it more than he ever had before. When Severus returned to the castle, he was in for a gigantic shock, one that would change his life forever and definitely not in a good way.

Author's Note: Consero - to connect, join or twine together. I wrote this chapter longer because 1) I felt I couldn't stop once I got on a roll and 2) I felt I owed it to you guys to write an extra long chapter since I hadn't posted in so long. I was away for about a week taking care of my aunt who just had surgery and I was without my laptop so I couldn't write. Now, I'm back and I'll try to get at least one chapter out a week, though I promise nothing. I'm sure I can do at least that much, but there may only be about two chapters left, depending on what I decide will happen next and how I write it. I hope you enjoy it and feedback is more than welcome, though construcive critism is better than flames. Thank you to everyone who has stuck by me thus far and I promise to try to get this wrapped up as soon as possible. Much love.

Deirdra