Bonded Souls
C3: Revelations
A/N: Standard disclaimer, I don't own any of the recognizable charachters.
The following morning Hermione woke up to a soft snoring, coming from the man next to her. She smiled and snuggled a bit closer. Fabian was sleeping on his back, and she decided to close her eyes for a few minutes more, resting her head on his chest.
What felt like a few minutes turned out to be a couple of hours, she woke up again to see Fabian smiling down on her, apparently they had not shifted since she fell asleep on his chest and she felt a bit embarrassed about using him as a pillow. He seemed to notice her embarrassment and pulled her against him. "It's fine baby, I like being your pillow, although I can imagine it isn't very comfortable."
She smiled "your chest is very comfortable Fabe, I like listening to your heartbeat, it comforts me." He kissed her cheek and then rested his head on top of hers, content to relax in bed for now, since he knew most of the day would be spent in the library, looking for answers about their bond.
After a while they got out of bed and to Hermione's surprise there were fresh clothes waiting for her. Fabian saw her look of surprise and laughed "That was probably Jupi, he must have popped into your house last night and got some clothes for you. And don't worry he wouldn't have rifled through your drawers, he might have sensed what you needed and got that together with magic." Hermione just nodded, relieved that Jupi was already looking out for her.
When they had gotten dressed and made their way downstairs to get some breakfast, Eliza was already waiting for them in the living room. "Good morning you two, I trust you slept well?" she asked with a knowing smile.
Hermione blushed but Fabian just nodded "Yes Mum, we slept very well thank you." Eliza gave them both a good morning hug and placed two plates in front of them "I took the liberty of making you kids breakfast. I gave Jupi the day off, since he needed to do some things." Both of them just nodded, and dug into the lovely breakfast in front of them, stealing glances at each other every couple of seconds.
Eliza looked at them with some interest, since it wasn't as bad as this yesterday. "Did something happen last night between the two of you, you two look even more smitten with each other than yesterday." She said with a smile
Fabian shook his head and smiled "trust you to notice that, but the answer is kind of double sided, yes something happened, but no it isn't what you think." The look in his mothers' eyes told him she was a bit confused but willing to let it go for now, figuring if they wanted to tell her more, they would.
After breakfast Hermione and Fabian made their way towards the library, holding hands the entire way. Once they entered the massive library Hermione found herself stunned for the umpteenth time. The entire room was filled with shelf upon shelf of books. In the center of the room stood an old wooden table with some comfortable couches around it. She had to smile, this room easily held as much books as the Hogwarts library. The only difference was the table and the sofa's.
Figuring they needed to start their research somewhere Fabian grabbed a few books on the basics of magical bonds.
A couple of hours later they had read almost every book on magical bonds that the library held, but still they were at the same point they started at, when a thought struck Fabian. Maybe this went even further than a magical bond. He went searching through the library, looking for an ancient tome which may hold the information the needed.
After a few minutes of searching he found it "Got it, Bonding through the ages. The first book ever written on magical bonds. If I had to guess, what we are looking for and more importantly what we are feeling is right in this book." Hermione smiled and took out another piece of parchment to take more notes.
Fabian sat himself down next to her again and flipped through a couple of pages. "Let's see, a magic bond is usually formed between two lovers. There are many forms of magical bonds known, but not one of those bonds is as potent as the 'Soul Bond'. This form of bond usually presents itself at a young age, usually starting out as an affectionate friendship and grows as time goes by. Usually the magic of the 'soulmates' is bonded through an ancient line of magic, usually on the male side. The bond manifests itself through an urge of protection of the other and a painful feeling in the heart whenever the couple is parted from the other. Usually this doesn't start until the couple shares their first true kiss. After periods of emotional stress the bond urges the couple together, usually presenting itself in the way of increased intimacy. There are not many soul bonds recorded in history, but from the ones that are recorded we know the couples are completely monogamous, the man will find himself unable to see any other woman as anything more than a friend, and the woman will be unable to have offspring with anyone else than her soulmate. They can love no other and the urge to be together in the most intimate of ways will be present until the relationship is consummated."
Both Hermione and Fabian sunk back into the couch after they closed the book, Hermione immediately crawling closer towards him. Fabian put his arm around her and smiled "So I guess we found what the feelings last night meant, eh love." He said after giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Hermione nodded "I think it also explains why you weren't affected by the thrall from the Veela's at the World Cup." She said with a smile.
She leaned up to kiss him when she saw he was frowning, and if she was not mistaken she could see tears forming in his eyes. What's wrong love?" She asked with a worried voice
His eyes met her beautiful brown ones and said "Now knowing that us being parted will hurt us makes it all the more difficult to let you go today." He said with a few tears running down his cheek.
She kissed the tears away "Don't worry my love, like we always do, we'll figure something out. Maybe we can convince your mother and my parents to let you stay with me until Ginny's birthday and after that for me to stay here with you until we have to go back to school. Once we are at school we will ask McGonagall if there is something we can do while we are at school."
Fabian immediately perked up "That sounds wonderful love, I think my mom won't make a problem, she won't mind me being away for the rest of the week, gives her time to arrange some things for my father's trial that will be coming up soon. I just hope your parents will accept me, with me being a pureblood and all."
Hermione smiled "they will accept you without any problems, just for the fact that you love me will be good enough for them."
He smiled and kissed her, again starting out slowly but quickly it turned into something more. He licked her lips, begging entrance, which she gave without much resistance. She returned the favor and was also gained quick entry into his mouth.
Without either of them really noticing they crawled on top of each other, their bond urging them to go further. Fabian felt how Hermione's hands crawled up his back, his own hands quickly making their way towards her shirt.
They broke apart for just a second and saw reflected in each other's eyes pure lust. Before Fabian could react Hermione had gotten a hold of his shirt and pulled it over his head, her nails raking lightly over the freshly exposed skin. He dipped his head a bit further down to apply some kisses against her neck.
Fabian flipped them and was just about to continue when he felt her finger against his lips. Apparently her mind had regained some conscious thought and had noticed how far they had gone this time. The untangled themselves and sat back up, both still heavily panting from the activity.
After a while Fabian felt Hermione crawling against him, giving him his shirt back. He blushed as he put it back on, only to find Hermione smiling at him. "It's fine baby, nothing bad happened, and I liked it very much." She said with a smile.
A little while later they walked from the library back to the living room where Fabian figured his mother would be. Fabian asked Hermione to wait for him in his room, so they could process the last couple of hours more easily. In truth Fabian wanted to ask his mother if he could go stay with Hermione for the week.
When he walked into the family room he was shocked. Because sitting across from his mother was none other than Narcissa Malfoy. "What's she doing here." He yelled.
Both women looked up and Eliza just smiled. "Well I guess there is no point in hiding it now. Fabian would you please take a seat, I promise to explain everything." He frowned but took a seat anyway, his mother always told him everything.
"Well, first of all, Narcissa is here because like your father Lucius was also arrested a few days ago. He was discovered to be one of the Death Eaters at the World Cup, and she came here today because she needed some moral support, because although I despise my brother and family, I have always cared a great deal for Narcissa. To be honest Narcissa and I have always cared for each other more than everyone knew." Eliza said, taking Narcissa's hand.
Fabian looked at them wide eyed. "you have got to be joking mom, please tell me you are joking." Eliza shook her head "well I guess if you're happy there is not much I can do is there." Eliza hugged him and smiled. "But I still have one question though, what is the deal with Draco, because I sometimes get the feeling he isn't all that full of the blood purity stuff as he lets off to be." He asked Narcissa with a softer look than he had before.
Narcissa smiled "Yes you are right, I asked Draco to do that since his father asked Crabbe and Goyle to watch him, to make sure he follows the path his father set out for him. And if Draco put even as much as a toe out of line, they would beat him senseless. He had to do what he did to save himself. I could live with the fact that I was in danger from my husband, as long as my son was safe."
As she finished, Narcissa could see the tears in his eyes forming. "I'm sorry Narcissa, I didn't know, and from the look in your eyes I can see you genuinely love my mother, so that makes Draco kind of a step brother for me, so from now on I'll protect him from Crabbe and Goyle whenever I can, and I really want to apologize for what I did to him last year."
"It's okay Fabian, he knew you were just standing up for your girlfriend." She said with a smile. He smiled back at her and moved to give her a hug. Narcissa was a bit surprised with this but accepted his hug with a smile.
"Well now that everything is settled, I have something to ask Mum, could I go and stay with Hermione and her parents for the week? And if it's okay we would like to stay here until we need to go back to school" Eliza smiled at him "of course Fabian, if it's okay with the Grangers then it's fine with me." He smiled and hugged his mother again. "Thanks mum, I'll go tell Hermione, we'll come and say goodbye before we go."
She nodded and watched as he went back to his room. "That went better than expected, wouldn't you think my love." She said with a smile. Narcissa smiled back and kissed her "I think it went better than we could have hoped, I only hope Draco and Fabian can at least try and get along."
"If I know Fabian a bit, there will be a period of awkwardness but after that everything will be fine. He already said that he would try and protect Draco." Narcissa smiled "I suppose you're right Liz, I'm just a bit worried about Draco and Fabian, they do have a bit of history together."
Eliza smiled "You're right Cissy, they do have history, can't you remember when they were young and they would run around in your garden." Narcissa nodded "I remember that, I believe it was the last time things were easy."
…
Meanwhile Fabian got to his room, his mind running all over the place. Apparently his mom was a lesbian and was in a relationship with Narcissa Malfoy, that was something he hadn't seen coming. He walked into his room, and for a second he forgot Hermione was in there. He closed his door and let out a long sigh, sliding down against the door. His mind was still all jumbled from all the information he had learned today. First being bonded to Hermione, then he almost assaulted her, and then he walked in on his mother and Narcissa, and then the whole confession from his mother and her being together with Narcissa.
"Everything okay Fabe?" Hermione asked from the bed. He looked up and smiled at her "I'm fine baby, just processing all of the information we learned today, and of course what happened downstairs." She quirked a perfect eyebrow at him "What happened downstairs love?" she asked while she came and sit next to him.
He kissed her cheek and smiled "Not much, just found out my mother has found true love, and with a woman off all possibilities. But the who is much more interesting in this case." She smiled at him "well don't keep me in suspense here baby, who is it." He looked at her and said "just promise me you won't overreact." She nodded "it's Narcissa Malfoy, and she told me some things that kind of turned around everything around on me."
Hermione straddled him so she could look into his eyes. "It'll be fine Fabian, from what I have seen from your mother, she deserves love, with whoever that is. The fact that it is Narcissa Malfoy, while shocking does not change that, who knows, maybe Draco and the two of us have a chance to have some kind of friendship."
He smiled at her "Maybe your right, but she told me some stuff about Draco that made me reassess everything I thought I knew about him. She told me that Draco only acted the way he did because his two lackeys are waiting for him to put a toe out of line and beat the piss out of him. The truth is that he doesn't carry that pure blood stuff like we thought, and that he hates his father and his beliefs."
She kissed him again and then got up, getting a little groan from him "oh stop it, you can get more when we get to my parents." She said with a smile
He stuck his tongue out at her and got up, walking to his closet to get a few bags. A few minutes later they had packed everything he might need for a week.
Together they walked down to say goodbye to Eliza and Narcissa. Conveniently the two ladies were already in the sitting room when they walked in.
Narcissa got up "Oh Ms. Granger, how wonderful to meet you, Draco told me so many wonderful things about you. And he asked me to apologize on his behalf, since he won't be able to until you get to school." Hermione smiled "It's quite alright Mrs. Malfoy, Fabian told me everything, and I promise you we will try to uphold Draco's façade for the time being."
Narcissa smiled "Thank you Ms. Granger, but I belief it will not be necessary for much longer. He is working on a way to get rid of Crabbe and Goyle at the start of the year." Hermione and Fabian both smiled and hugged them both.
"It was lovely to meet the real you, Mrs. Malfoy, but I'm afraid we must get going, otherwise my parents will have started dinner." Eliza laughed and Narcissa smiled. After another round of hugs, they stepped into the fireplace and flooed to The Leaky Cauldron.
…
After a bit of a walk they found the correct bus, and while Fabian was a bit weary of getting on it, they arrived at the Granger residence. It was about an hour before dinnertime so they had plenty of time for her parents to get to know her boyfriend.
Just before she opened the door she kissed him, figuring she wouldn't have the opportunity to kiss him again until they went to bed. She opened the door and led him in, figuring her parents were relaxing in the living room before dinner. "Mum, Dad I'm home" she called once they were in. Together they walked towards the living room, hands still locked together. "Hello dear, good to see you again." her mother started, but fell a bit silent when she saw Fabian with his hand in hers. "Who is this Hermione?" Hermione smiled at them "Mum, Dad, I want you to meet my boyfriend Fabian Markov." At the mention of his name he looked up and smiled. Hermione led him forward. Her father shook his hand "Nice to meet you Fabian, I'm Richard and this is my wife Ellen" he said with a kind expression "Nice to meet you too sir, and may I say what a lovely home you have."
"you may, but it will not get you anywhere." He said with a big smile. Fabian laughed lightly, although a bit nervously. He didn't really know where he stood with her father at this point. But he figured that he would be explained that over the course of the night. Her father turned to him again "So I understand you are staying here this week?" Fabian nodded and he continued "Let me just point out a few rules. Due to a lack of space, you are sleeping in Hermione's room, but there will be absolutely no inappropriate behavior, or else I will not hesitate to put you out into the street. Secondly, you will be expected to help around the house."
Fabian smiled at him "No problem Mr. Granger, Hermione and I have already shared a bed at the Weasley's and at my house yesterday, we made the same promise to Mrs. Weasley and my mother. And I assure you nothing happened. As for the help around the house, being magic born and raised, I really don't have experience with housework, but with Hermione's help I believe it will be fine."
Her father smiled and gave him a pat on the back "That's fine son, we have to work during the day, so you kids will have to entertain yourselves during the day, but I'm sure that won't be a problem"
Hermione's mother interjected at this point "Hermione also mentioned that there is something special between you two, would you two care to elaborate on that?" she asked with a slight smile. The young couple shared a look and nodded at each other. It was Hermione who spoke, since these were her parents "It's kind of a long story, and we don't know everything ourselves yet, but I will explain as much as I can."
She sighed slightly before she continued "We knew from the first moment that this was more than a simple crush, and we decided to look what it could mean. And since Fabian has a gigantic library at his house, we decided to start our search there. We found an ancient book with a lot of information and what we found that matched our, for a lack of a better word symptoms. It is called a Soul Bond and is one of the most powerful forms of magic bonds, and usually starts out as a friendship. The couple will be bonded together forever and the man will feel protective of the woman, and both of them can never love another. It will also said that the couple will feel actual pain when they are parted, so that's why I asked if Fabian could stay with us this week and I could stay with him after Ginny's birthday. But back to the point. The book also said the effects of the bond would not be felt until the couple shared their first kiss, which happened at the World Cup. But perhaps the most important is that the effects will balance itself out once the relationship has been consummated" she finished with a blush.
"This is a lot to take in, but as long as you are happy, that's really all we can ask for. But I hope you understand this will take a while for us to get used to." Hermione and Fabian both nodded and soon enough Mrs. Granger went into the kitchen to start dinner.
Dinner was lovely and was of course filled with questions to Fabian about his life. Thankfully her parents warmed up to him pretty quickly, which put a smile on Hermione's face. She was a bit nervous about introducing him to her parents because he was a pureblood. She had told them a lot about pureblood families over the years and while they liked the Weasley's, they were a bit prejudiced about the families like the Malfoys.
After dinner they excused themselves, wanting to go to bed early tonight. They said their goodnights to the Grangers and made their way up to Hermione's bedroom. Once they were inside, Hermione waved her wand over her bed and it doubled in size, so they could sleep comfortably. They sat down on the newly resized bed and immediately they sought more contact with each other. Fabian kissed her and immediately Hermione parted her lips to welcome his tongue in her mouth.
They had agreed to try and keep their urges under control and keep to kissing for now. However they soon discovered this was easier said than done. Hermione pulled his shirt off, and she felt how his hands pulled her own shirt off. She knew she should feel embarrassed but she knew this was her mate, the one person that she would never have to be embarrassed for. She mentally groaned when she replayed that thought, she was already referring to him as her mate. She would have to watch that.
Fabian was not faring any better himself. He loved the silky feel of her skin beneath his hands but he somehow managed to control himself not to go further with Hermione. He felt how she flipped them over and how she straddled him. He groaned when he felt her nails lightly rake across his chest. "So strong, so beautiful, and it's all mine." He heard her whisper.
He smiled at her "Indeed it is my love, I'm all yours" he said after flipped them back over again "so soft, so gorgeous and all mine." He repeated after her. Hermione blushed and pulled him down again, kissing him fiercely.
They stayed like that for a few more minutes when both of them yawned. "I think it's time we go to bed my love." Hermione said with a smile
Fabian nodded and said "I think so to love, but I think we better change first, no point in both of us sleeping in our jeans." She laughed and waved her wand again, changing him in his pajama bottoms, and herself in a cute nighty.
At the sight of his girlfriend in that nightie Fabian had to control the urge to start everything over again. Hermione saw the look in his eyes and smiled "later love, how about for now we cuddle up to each other and try and get some sleep." She said while she crawled under the covers
Fabian smiled and followed her example, immediately putting one arm around her from behind. Hermione could feel how he nuzzled her neck and placed some light kisses against it. She smiled and closed her eyes, truly content for the first time in a long time.
