Chapter eight : Soul Bonds ?

- Flying domain, 1991, Hufflepuff's Dormitory -

It had been one week. Raven tried very hard not to think about it. But the flying class was different. She could think calmly and take stock of her situation. She did feel nowhere as comfortable as on a broom.

But something bothered her since the first time she was riding a broom : Her legs hanging in the void, useless. Raven had the feeling, the intuition that it was not the right way to ride. Yet she was flying. Everyone in his class who managed to fly ride in the same way. Still, she cannot help herself but think about it. Then, without really thinking, she tried.

Raven had prudently stopped rising astride to ride sidesaddle, and because it was the idea, she gently folded legs against herself. In doing so, she then realized two things: Under no circumstances she should fold both legs completely, she would drop dive without being able to catch up if she does so. Then she found that by keeping its outermost leg loose and by using her internal leg as a lever, she could with a simple gesture adjust her height without tipping back or lean.

Conversely, when she leans, she goes left and when she tips back, she goes right. Her legs, in perpetual motion, serve both to ensure her grip on the broom and to make the balance. Then, she continued her observations of this other way to fly until she was interrupted by Professor Hooch:

"Miss Granger, that is not how one gets on a broom" she chided, from the ground.

"Sorry Professor" replied Raven changing position to ride astride as she was requested to do so.

Her obedience and discipline were hypocritical but Raven knew it was neither the place nor the time to experiment. Even if in her heart, she was certain that her way of riding on a broom had never been more correct, appropriate and right.

Seeing Raven obeys swiftly, something seems to have happened in the head of Professor Hooch as she corrected herself immediately:

"In fact, you can forget what I just said. Do as you feel it but do not disturb the class."

In response, Raven nodded. A silent exchange passed between Mrs. Hooch and her. The brunette didn't know exactly what she needed to understand, but she was certain that the teacher would not give up. In the end, her intuition was proved right.

"Miss Granger? A moment, please. Take this. You will join me each week on the flying domain with the indicated time. This is not a detention but I highly recommend to be present and punctual. You may leave."

That is what Raven had been said at the end of the class while Raven was concerned, busy solving the inextricable situation that was her nascent and somewhat problematic relationship with Hermione Granger, the girl everyone thought was her sister.

Raven had put in a fold of her dress the paper of Professor and continued to think about that question until she arrives in the Hufflepuff common room and finds herself face to face with the person of her problem.

Hermione had again taken Susan in her business to rob the library. Which simply meant that the two girls had more books before them that Raven felt able to read in a week, even doing just that of her time. But that was the normal behavior of Hermione.

It turned out that Hermione was not a Ravenclaw for nothing. It was perhaps the reincarnation of Rowena Ravenclaw, for that Raven knew! But Hermione how much a bookworm genius she was, on the contrary, lacked cruelly of any social intelligence.

It was still pretty crazy to have to find that Hermione pushed the vice so far that even the other Ravenclaw was struggling to stand her. Currently, apart from Raven, who was taking his misfortune patiently because she didn't have much choice, and Susan Bones, who supported Hermione for obscure reasons that Slytherin girl didn't understand, nobody, absolutely nobody among the students did want so far to deal with Hermione Granger.

Ron Weasley, the boy that Raven had labeled as an idiot when they met in the library, had even, in a great demonstration of tact, described Hermione as a walking nightmare. But if Raven had to defend Hermione and put this boy in his place, she had also found that Ron Weasley was not basically a bad person and that she had misjudged him.

Weasley was indeed a fool but it was not exactly his fault. We all could not be geniuses. For the well-being of humanity, hundreds of Ron Weasley were better than hundreds of Hermione Granger. Furthermore, after finding heavy insistence of the boy, it seemed obvious to Raven that Ron acted on order. Ron Weasley finally ... was just the son of his mother.

Raven also had decided to treat him with kindness or, at least, cease to show openly hostile toward him, and welcome him with quiet neutrality. After all, a relationship was a relationship and everyone still needed the services of a useful idiot, sooner or later.

But back to Hermione ... Raven didn't know what to do. With it, the Ravenclaw always seemed to wait in demand. Raven did not understand her needs and was, therefore, incapable of satisfying them. That's why Hermione had this strange behavior almost bipolar, between her behavior with Raven that was almost histrionic and her compulsion to learn more and more, the rest of the time.

It would not take long for Raven to understand that books were a refuge for Hermione. A kind of wall that stood between her and the world. When Hermione was sad or hurt, frustrated or confused, she took refuge in books. What made the Ravenclaw girl spent the major part of his days reading. In this way, she accumulated a tremendous amount of knowledge – sometimes useless knowledge ... but knowledge anyway.

Frankly, no one ever really knew what was really useful knowledge until the opportunity arises. In this regard, Hermione had certainly improved her magic and mind skills more than anyone in the first year. Except that, she was doing too much. She was overworked and it not only affected the social life of Hermione but also of Raven. In addition, Raven had to admit she had other reasons for wanting to end this vicious circle.

One of her reasons was that despite all across Hermione, Raven could not help but have something like affection for her. No doubt that it was still this magic between them. But for their welfare in both, Raven would have to find a solution toward Hermione. Maybe, the sooner the better.

- Hufflepuff's Dormitory, 1991 -

Thursday, 3 October 1991 | Year 11, Mars owl Slytherin.

Dear Diary,

It was hard not to write all this time. Especially since I really really needed! But I had to protect Raven to be sure and certain of the protections of this Diary.

To read this diary, one needs to have my permission or need be a woman of the Virgo's astrological sign, but also need to know the password that reveals my handwriting. In other words : Anyone who doesn't meet the reading criteria would felt a strong compulsion to go do something else every time one plans to read my diary. In addition, if by any chance, it's a woman of Virgo, it's still necessary that she knows the password to read it. I think it's an adequate and a sufficient security. In short: You are protected from inquisitive and curious.

I also have a new friend. I've already talked to Susan Bones. We ended up sharing all our astronomy and history classes. She is very friendly and particularly curious. She is also very morally upright, which explains her sorting in Hufflepuff. Then, now we share the same dormitory by a combination of circumstances, we have grown closer.

But I could not write until now to protect Raven and I really need to put everything I think of it on paper. So ... Raven and I are bound by a strange bond for something like a week and three days. The nurse used the words "Soul Bond" and "Blood Magic" more or less inadvertently during our conversation. And I did library research to better understand what was happening.

In a way I can not explain, Raven and I are bound by a kind of magic which the blood plays a preponderant dimension. There are about one hundred and twenty cases in a thousand years. Consider a case all eight years, Raven and I are therefore in a rare situation ... but not unusual as to be unique, quite the opposite. There are a register and some books on the subject. Books that agree for the most part to say that Raven and I should be closer than we are in reality.

Somehow, it's my fault. It was me who told Raven that we could keep to a minimum relationship and act as if nothing had happened. But if I want to be honest with myself ... I crave more. I want us to be closer. Part of me even regret that we cannot be real sisters. Because it is obvious that we are too different to be simple friends.

Raven is a compulsive liar. She is manipulative, selfish and cold. She spends her days with Daphne but I'm not even sure that the two were actually friends. Of course, they will both have their interest whatsoever. But I doubt that their relationship is real depth. Although I admit I did not understand at first why those twos spend all their time together.

In summary: I am bound by an ancient magic to a girl who doesn't care about me and who willingly get rid of me if I provided a solution to do so. I am depressed, I feel like crying all the time. But I cling. After all, I have Susan to support me by now. Even though I have said nothing to her of what I do and why ... She's really quick-witted and I think she has already understood numbers of things between the lines.

- Chamber of Secrets, 1991 -

Now that the stone and his latest Horcrux were safe, in a place where only Voldemort had access, he was able to focus on something else and enjoyed the pleasures of his new life. With the stone and the Horcruxes, Voldemort was now all powerful and truly immortal. Get under a new identity and give some more years to regain power was the most reasonable attitude.

Especially now that he knew how treacherous was the approximate loyalty he had counted among his death-eaters. It would take years ... but Voldemort had a firm intention to reform his army of followers, spread her enemies, either by killing them or discrediting them, and even to propel to power by legal means, now that he had no urge, no emergency, such as an aging body ... or fear that someone discover the secret of his immortality.

Everyone thought he was dead. He had no longer to worry about the time passing. In addition to knowledge that the enemy had not Voldemort could now play both patience and surprise cards. But also, Voldemort had discovered with surprise at the turn of his way a curious and interesting thing: a Child-Horcrux, who is walking around with a piece of his soul in it. He knew it because the soul piece was entered into resonance with him. As if the soul piece and the child responding to their rightful owner.

A daughter of his soul rather than his flesh, accidentally created without his knowledge, was this not a sign of providence? Voldemort had learned with horror that his Horcrux had landed unconscious in the infirmary. He also learned that the child, who rightfully belonged to him, was linked to another girl who threatened to corrupt her! It was absolutely unacceptable! This child, worthy Slytherin and faithful portrait of himself at the same age should not spoil see her potential.

On the contrary: Voldemort along well takes the child under his wing. But that meant he had to also acquire the other girl to his cause because one and one another was now inseparable, whether he likes it or not. Voldemort was going to have to stoop to charm a girl of twelve years to recover what rightfully belonged to him. Straw! But Voldemort had been deprived of many things when his soul was first torn from his body...

All because of Potter! If only Voldemort remembered what had really happened that night ... He should have been immortal. He had killed the child of prophecy and his family. Nobody in the world should have the power to overcome him! In fact, it remained true since the Potters died too while he was well and truly alive. As such, and despite appearances, he remained undefeated.

He was seriously injured, beyond that no wizard in the world had ever experienced ... but he survived. He had survived the killing curse! The deemed infallible spell had not resisted against the power of his precious Horcruxes. And now he had a human Horcrux, full of life and intelligent who makes her own way in Hogwarts's corridor , no doubt expecting his legitimate father to come get her.

Who was he to disappoint his daughter? Rhetoric question of course. But as the living god he was, he could well give in a little paternal fiber. His daughter would be his first lieutenant. The window of his omnipotence. His pride. His worthy successor - at least on paper.

In a final twist : The daughter of his soul had made herself known as Raven. Was it not a perfect name for the worthy daughter of Voldemort?

- Hufflepuff's Dormitory, 1991 -

-Never Stop smiling and one day, a boy fall in love with your smile. As Dad to Mom.

'But if many boys fall in love with me, how will I know who the right one is?

-That's simply : With the right one, you will never have to force yourself to smile.

Megan Jones was a smiling girl. But sometimes her smile was fake and not really reach her eyes. That smile that was not a real smile gave her a falsely mysterious appearance. But when Megan looked in the mirror with that smile, she could almost hear her reflection saying :

-Guess how much I am a hypocrite?

Essentially, Megan was really and truly a good living. She loved to laugh, smile and really enjoyed being in Hufflepuff. However, apart from the fact that Megan's smile was not always a real smile, the girl had another little secret. A secret she kept to herself and which even her mother doesn't know.

Since a young age, when she had not even the maturity to take an interest in matters of the heart, she always knew when two people were interested in each other. Resentment, jealousy, envy, admiration, devotion, tenderness ... She always spotted any sign of interest, mutual or unilateral, before everyone else. Sometimes, even before the main stakeholders.

Megan had concluded that everyone was hypocritical. That love of fairy tales did not exist. And also ... that sometimes, just sometimes, people would gain to show a tad sincerity. Megan was not surprised found that some friendships were more superficial they have appeared. Megan was not surprised to also observe the opposite. Or even observe that certain friendships sometimes hid more than friendship.

She was not yet of age, even if Megan already thought about it. That was probably why she was struggling to bind sincere friendship with anyone. After all, there was always the risk that a beautiful friendship on paper hiding something else underneath. But sometimes also, this small gift showed her things that gave her hope. As that two sisters who were squatting their dorm and did not stop to look around each other... but their feelings never met.

It was two desperate cases. But two hopeless cases really endearing. Hermione, the brunette who seemed to have set out to be the living embodiment of Ravenclaw seemed to be ready for everything and anything to get some affection from Raven. For her part, Raven, really worried about Hermione was obviously unable to show her feelings. Megan had even finished to wonder how they could be twins.

Always was it that their respective feelings and how they turn around each other really makes Megan cheers up. If it was like that to have a twin sister, she would have liked to have one. Although she had also found, the Patil twins and the Weasley twins were not like that at all. Maybe it was something about false twins? Or then maybe it was specific to the Granger family. But for the greater good - peace in the common room - Megan had decided to give a little help to the two sisters.

"If you're not good at speaking, make her a hug" she replied to Raven as she was busy initiate her to the subtle and delicate art of explosive battle ... while withdrawing her confidences that Raven would not have done if she had not been so taken in the game.

"For you, hugs are the solution to every problem, Megan. I'm not like you" Raven said, slightly decentralized but always attentive to her game.

"Care, comfort, tenderness, joy ... I do not see a situation where hugs are an inappropriate means of expression" Megan replied. "You want to express that you're worried about her without having the right words to do it and she wants a bit of your attention ... nothing that a hug can't solve for you two, right?"

Raven gets distracted for a moment by her thoughts and Megan won the game while Raven's remaining cards exploded in her hands, covering her face with soot in a hilarious way.

"I won!" Megan cried starting from a real laugh while offering a handkerchief to Raven "Next time, remember not to hold your cards so close to your face, Raven, unless you want to redo your haircut"

Then as Raven still said nothing:

"Really Raven. It is perhaps not your thing in your family and I do not know what is the problem between you and your sister, but there is no argument that a good hug can not solve. Reconcilers hugs are always the best!"

Megan really meant it. Hugs were a really privileged mode of exchange. Megan did not even know if it was possible to lie by a hug. Some hugs meant nothing. They were clueless. But a hug, was it hollow, was always sincere. It was hard to express by his body an emotion we do not really felt. Maybe it was, but Megan had not yet experienced. And hoped that it would always remain so.

Chapter End

Hello everybody !

I hope you like the character of Megan Jones because it will be the fourth best friend of our favorite couple! (Well, anyway, my favorite couple). Megan Jones's character really exists, I just inspired myself to his personality. That way, you know who I identify myself. Megan Jones will be a little strange, cool and pretty much a cuddler. Just like me.

So... for me, it's dinner time and I have a date ! Yes, I know you don't care. But the romantic chapters of this fiction are not going to write itself so this is very good news. I'm already working on chapters 21 and 22. I did not make much progress this week but I do my best.

See you in two weeks !