Chapter Eleven
Hello again, here is chapter eleven, I hope you enjoy :)
Review bit:
Watergoddesskasey: Aww thank you! That's really kind of you :)
TeaPott: Writing is fun procrastination too, I'm taking biology maths and chemistry and studying is doing my head in! What are you studying? Good luck to you as well and thank you for your review :)
Charliedorothy26: Here you go! Another chapter xD Thank you for reviewing :)
Poison-Quills: Thank you for your reviews; I'm trying to make my chapters longer and I wont put authors notes in the middle any more-it was only necessary to outline where some chapter from DH went :)
Yaoilover6969: Thank you for your review, the weather today is really sunny here; I hope you have a wonderful day too :)
Rori Potter: Thank you very much, this chapter is a teeny bit longer than the last one-so I am trying xD for some reason, the word brilliant Is one of my favourite words ever, it gives me a *squee-face* whenever I read it xD
Mangaluver: I feel a lot better now thank you, just a little chesty cough remains! I know what you mean, whenever I watch the HP movies now I'm forever saying "see? They are MEANT to be together" much to my friends' confusion-hehe. Sinusitis is not very yummy-it just means my sinuses were inflamed (I think?) so all blocked up and icky-hehe. Anyway, it's all over now and I can breathe again! YAY!
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Shego1142: Oh no, sorry- I'm just to quick at posting new updates *grin* but thank you for reviewing this one!
LittleScottieGal: I thought your foot had fallen off and meant you couldn't get to your computer, I was like "nooooo, Scottie, I have failed your foot!" but you are back! YAY! Don't worry, even if I did throw a pitchfork at you, I would no doubt miss horribly. I'm afraid Hermione has signed up to a crashy burny fate, but you will see Luna in this chapter! Thank you for reviewing xD
Harry woke to sunlight streaming through the window; the maelstrom of questions running through his mind that night had not allowed much time for sleep so he was completely exhausted. He blinked his eyes wearily and looked over at Snape to see that he was still asleep. The noises from the other side of the door were now non-existent and the moon had long been out of the sky so Harry decided it was safe to check on Draco. As the young boy stood to his feet, the floorboards made an impossibly loud squeak, resulting in an annoyed grumble from Snape. Ignoring this; Harry continued to the door and swung it open; and gasped in shock at what he saw; Draco was lying on the floor, still fast asleep but completely naked.
Colour flushed Harry's cheeks as he turned to look at a now upright Snape, the older man looked slightly alarmed at what could have caused Harry's reaction. "Umm...Professor, it would appear that..." Harry faltered, his face now burning crimson with embarrassment, "well, Draco doesn't have any clothes on, sir."
A flicker of amusement flashed over his eyes, and the older man appeared to be trying hard to hold back a smirk, "Only amimagi can shift from animal to human and keep their clothes." He explained "Werewolves lose all humanity in were-form so clothes are very much at the back of their mind"
"So, what do we do? He destroyed his clothes when he turned."
"He can have my cloak," replied Snape, passing Harry the cloak that, until now, had been slung over Snape's arm.
Harry took the cloak, and was unnerved to feel a little thrill shimmer down his spine as his hand brushed against Snape's. Cloak in hand, Harry wandered into Draco's room with his eyes semi-closed and flung the cloak over the boy's small frame to conceal his modesty.
The touch of the fabric woke Draco from his slumber and he groaned incoherently as he slowly pushed himself upright; Harry took this as his cue to leave and walked back out to the room Snape was in so that Draco could have at least some privacy.
Harry's footsteps resonated loudly through the small room, causing the Potions master to jump in surprise. He looks so different in his muggle clothes thought Harry. The Gryffindor tilted his head to one side as he studied the older man; his shirt looked soft and casual, the top was button left open; exposing some of the pale skin beneath it, His trousers hugged tightly to his long, lean legs...Suddenly a pulse of warmth hummed through the air, alive with curiosity and anticipation which shook Harry from his day-dream. Oh crap, I was just gawping at Snape...and he noticed! Thought Harry; his cheeks flushing red once more. What has gotten into me?
He wasn't, however, given time to dwell any further on his stray thoughts as Draco had finally appeared, looking slightly dishevelled. Harry couldn't help but notice the pang of jealousy that shot through him as he saw his friend wrapped in Snape's cloak; it was such a caring gesture to give someone their clothes; such a gesture that Harry had always dreamed of being on the receiving end of No matter who from he quickly reminded himself.
The three of them left the house and began to make their way to the apparition point. Draco was exhausted and not at all talkative so Harry fell into step next to Snape and tried to strike up pleasant conversation. "Sir, what are we going to be doing for my apprenticeship next week?"
Snape looked down at the boy; approval flickering in his eyes; "You know, Potter, perhaps you are more like your mother after all." Harry's heart swelled; people only ever compared him to his mother's eyes before. He was sick of being compared to his father, more-so since discovering that he was a bully, so to be compared to Lily brought a grin to his face.
"Bearing in mind Draco's condition," continued Snape, jolting Harry from his reverie, "We shall spend the next few sessions brewing a healthy supply of Wolvesbane. It should keep the wolf from the door, so to speak."
Harry laughed inwardly at Snape's pun and was more than relieved to discover that their heart-to-heart during the previous night hadn't left an awkward fog between them. All too soon they had reached the apparition point and, before they knew it, stood before the impressive castle once more. Snape turned to Harry, "Harry, you'd better take Draco to get some rest, I'll go and begin gathering ingredients for the Wolvesbane potion. You can have the rest of today off, but I expect to see you in my office 8am sharp tomorrow." He leant in closer to Draco, "Take care, I'll inform the teachers of your absence; you shall be excused from lessons for the rest of this week."
With that he was off, striding away in his usual Snape-like manner; however, it didn't have the same effect without his infamous cloak. The two boys walked slowly to the Room of Requirement trying hard not to be seen by any other students. Of course, they weren't so lucky-they got odd stares from various Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and hisses and jeers from the Slytherins. Thankfully, they didn't encounter any Gryffindors and the only person they actually talked to was Luna.
"Luna! You're better!" exclaimed Harry, a grin spreading from ear to ear.
"Oh yes, Harry, Leaf-dew Pixies are miraculous things, one visited me at night and the next day I was as fit as a flea!" She smiled then turned her gaze to Draco, "You look like you've had a bad encounter with the moon, Draco. Powerful things, moons. Harry will take good care of you, I'm sure of it."
Draco, now slumped on Harry for support, had no energy to reply but managed a small smile regardless. "Luna, I had better go, it's so great to see you though," said Harry in earnest at least she hasn't turned against me he thought.
"I will see you later then. Oh and Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"Rumours are terrible things, but I need to know; have you moved out of the Gryffindor common room?"
"Yes, Luna, I have." Replied Harry before adding, "what else have you heard?"
"Nothing to be concerned about, I believe none of it anyway," said Luna with great sincerity. Harry smiled gratefully and bid her farewell before continuing to haul Draco along the seventh floor corridor to the Room of Requirement. Once inside with Draco safely sat on his bed, Harry went to brew a pot of tea, goodness knows; Draco needed it. His eyes were rimmed with dark circles and bruises were blossoming over his hands and spine, "I'll be back in a minute," called Harry as he hurried down to the kitchens to retrieve some more tea bags.
Returning ten minutes later, tea in hand, Harry discovered that Draco had changed into his usual attire of shirt and trousers and was now perched on his bed with his knees drawn up to his chest. He took the tea appreciatively and Harry was pleased to note that his icy grey eyes had regained their usual spark.
"How are you feeling?" Asked Harry, once his friend had finished his drink.
"A bit sore, I don't remember a thing, but my body aches like you wouldn't believe,"
"I bet, Snape said that the first few transformations are by far the worst; your body will need to adjust, in time it will hurt less."
Draco nodded slowly, he looked very wistful, "It's forever, isn't it?" he whispered.
"Yes," admitted Harry, "but Snape will make you some Wolfsbane; it will mean to transform into a wolf, not a werewolf and should have a little bit more control over your actions."
A flicker of hope illuminated Draco's eyes; "Thank you, for looking after me yesterday, I dread to think what would have happened if..." he drifted off, letting his sentence hang in the air.
"It's nothing," said Harry with an easy smile, "besides; it's Snape who you should really be thanking; he's the one who knew where to take you."
"I will be sure to thank his next potions lesson. Besides, that's enough about me, what did you and him get up to that evening?"
Harry winced, "Oh, it was so awkward, I asked him about why he showed me his memories and he made up some pathetic excuse but I could feel that he was lying. So I told him that he was lying and he flipped out and-"
"What do you mean you sensed he was lying?" Interrupted Draco; his interest clearly visible on his eyes.
Harry shrugged, "it's really strange, but I can feel his emotions. Most of the time anyway; other times I think he's trying to block me out." Draco stared intently at Harry before a smile slowly began twitching at the corner of his lips, panic flared in Harry as he realised the boy was starting to laugh, "What is it?" he demanded.
"Harry, do you have any idea what this means?" asked Draco, to which Harry shook his head. "It's a very rare thing and if I'm not mistaken; you may be experiencing what's known as animus vinculum."
"What's that?" Asked Harry warily.
"Well," began Draco, "it translates as Spirit or Soul bond. It is very old magic, something which happens only on average three times a century. You're magical core is trying to establish a connection with Snape's, and, seeing as you are already able to feeling his emotions, his core is bonding with yours." Harry felt the colour drain from his face, a BOND?
"Why?" he breathed.
"I don't know much, but from what I have heard; magical cores are very intricate things, people know they have a link to one's spirit, but they don't know how or why. However, powerful wizards' cores have the ability to bond with other cores. Harry, I really don't know all that much, I only ever heard snippets from what my father was saying; he was trying to find a way to make my magical core to chose someone; he was never successful though."
"But, but what do I do?" whined Harry, "I can't bond with Snape!"
Draco smiled sympathetically, "Like I said; old and intricate magic. I think you should get a book out of the library, it's called A Definitive Guide to Spirit Bonds I can show you where it is if you want,"
"It's okay, you need your rest, I'll go," said Harry as he stood to leave, "See you later."
Draco raised his hand in a half wave and Harry bolted for the door, he had to get his hands on that book as soon as possible, Harry felt sure it would explain everything he needed to know. In a blink of an eye Harry was already at the library and at the shelf marked; "Souls and Spirits" the book itself was easy enough to find; bound in leather and ornate gold lettering it stood out boldly from the rest; Harry took the book tentatively and signed it out before taking it back up to his bedroom.
"I got it," he told Draco, waving the book proudly above his head. Harry sat down on the bed next to Draco and laid the book between them; apprehension buzzed through his fingers as he opened the first page...
A Definitive Guide to Spirit Bonds.
A spirit bond is a very deep flowing bond between two magical creatures. It has been recorded that spirit bonds have arisen in humans, centaurs, veelas and dragons to name a few. Spirit bonds may also from between two species. They are very rare occurrences and only arise where one's magic is powerful and deep-flowing. Many wizards attempt to encourage a spirit bond in their children but there is no proof that there is anything that can be some to increase the likelihood of such a bond forming.
A spirit bond consists of three main elements; A core bond, A heart bond and a Body bond.
A Core Bond
A core bond is often the first to form as one's magic can identify a suitable match without the witch or wizard even knowing. A first sign of this bond forming is an awareness of their bond-partners emotions and then an awareness of their presence in the surrounding vicinity. As the bond strengthens each person will be able to pin-point the exact whereabouts of the bond-partner and some have reported the ability to transmit mental images to one another (this need further proof however, and will probably only occur when all three elements have tied.)A core bond is the hardest to form and the hardest to prevent from forming as it happens without the two people involved knowing.
Harry's throat ran dry and he skipped passed the heart and body bond and he knew all too well what they would involve. What Harry read next made his heart sink;
Progression of a spirit bond
As the bond progresses, more-so since two out of three bonds have been made, the two people involve find It progressively more difficult to stay apart from one another, to the point where physical and emotional pain can occur. This has had negative repercussions, especially in the notable case where a young witch formed a bond with a dragon. Once the heart and Core bond had been formed, the need to make a body bond drove both Witch and Dragon insane as such a bond would have been too dangerous to make.
As of yet, the only known way to prevent a spirit bond from occurring is if one of the creatures involved died. However, even this is said to make its bonded counterpart go mad with grief.
Harry couldn't bring himself to read any more, a hand on his shoulder, presumably Draco's, offered him little comfort.
"I don't love him, why has my magic bonded with him?" He whispered.
"I don't know, harry, but perhaps you like him more than you think...I saw the way you looked at him today, look-your hand is on his cloak as we speak. I think your subconscious likes him more than you realise yet."
To his dismay, Draco was right, Harry had been turning over Snape's cloak in his fingers; the soft, warm fabric reassured him and gave him an overwhelming urge, which he ignored, to smell it.
"how do I face him tomorrow?" asked Harry, "I mean, knowing what I know now-that's bound to make things awkward."
"It'll be okay, trust me. For now though, let's go to Hogsmeade, we missed out yesterday, and I think we could both do with a drink."
"But are you feeling okay?" Asked Harry.
Draco nodded, "Don't you worry about me, I want to go anyway," he reassured him. So, together, the two boys put on warmer outer layers and took the secret passageway in the Room of Requirement to Aberforth's pub, leaving the offending book behind.
Hubbubble-face-desk. That took longer to write than usual, so I'm sorry for the delayed update. For me, this is a long chapter, haha, so please don't review saying it was too short xD It may break my heart! Naahh, just kidding-all your reviews are precious to me and your opinions are greatly appreciated :)
Next chapter is going to be commandeered by Snape, so see you in a few days everyone!
Severus: "You never did give me back my cloak"
Harry: "But I like it! Besides you have plenty others"
Severus: "That was my favourite one though"
Harry: "Well, it's miney mine mine now, so ha!"
Draco: "Seriously, it's his comfort blanket" *smirk*
Harry: "Draco, you promised you wouldn't tell!"
Severus: "Who needs a comfort blanket when you have me, the real thing?"
Harry: *silence*
Severus: "Oh Draco, you've made him go into a grump now..."