CHAPTER TWELVE: BONDING
Molly fondly looked on the sight outside her window at the Burrow. Her grown children, along with Harry, Draco, Blaise and Hermione, were at present chasing each other around the yard in the silly muggle kid's game of hide-and-go-seek. Seeing all her chicks frolic about made her wish their childhood had not been so short-changed by war. She sighed, then smiled at seeing George creep up behind Draco to make him 'it'. Hermione had been so good for Draco. When Molly considered how he had been less than a year ago and what he was today, she was amazed at the change love had brought about in that young man's life. The same could be said of his parents, too. Who would have even thought she and Narcissa would become such good friends….so good in fact, Narcissa had asked Molly if she would help with the upcoming wedding. Knowing how proud the Malfoy's were, she recognized it as a declaration of trust from the regal woman. And here they were, just one day away from the anticipated event. Dresses had been made, reception food prepared and the only thing left to do was to apparate everything over to the Malfoy's estate in Wales.
Molly knew the more Narcissa had thought about Lucius' suggestion to carry Draco and Hermione to their seacoast estate for their honeymoon, the more she had liked the idea of having the wedding and reception there. Everyone could come for the mid-morning wedding (after Hermione had joked about needing until mid-morning to prepare herself to marry Draco, the time stuck in everyone's head until it was decided it would indeed be the perfect time to marry), stay to enjoy the festivities and brisk sea air, then leave in the afternoon to allow Draco and Hermione to enjoy their wedding night and subsequent honeymoon in peace and privacy. And the added bonus of this plan for Narcissa was that Lucius wouldn't be left alone at any time. She didn't know why, but she couldn't shake off the growing apprehension and gnawing fear she felt for her husband. She knew Lucius had hurt the Dark Lord's pride; she knew it would fester in that madman's mind until he exacted revenge. So, Narcissa had insisted on this plan and had made sure Kingsley and other Order heads helped her husband secure the grounds well beforehand. Multiple complex wards were now in place. Lucius had at first laughed, then sniffed and said she was trying to turn him into a namby-pamby, but Narcissa had held her ground and declared she could be as stubborn as he. Molly chuckled as she remembered that argument. Narcissa had completely cowed Lucius.
Coming back to the present, Molly flicked one more stir with her wand to the pot of simmering German wedding soup that was almost done. Hermione wanted that to be their pre-wedding meal in honor of her Uncle who would be giving her away in marriage. She'd told Molly this was a tradition, so the Weasley matriarch had taken it upon herself to learn the recipe. Trying it out first on her family, she'd discovered just how good the dish was. Even Ginny had loved the taste of the rich chicken broth with chicken, asparagus, noodles and nutmeg. So now she was busy finishing up this last dish before she put it away for the morning.
Suddenly, the front door banged opened and Draco flounced in, carrying a laughing Hermione piggy-back.
"You cheated! All you tossers cheated! And my own wife helped!" he playfully fussed.
"Not wife yet, Mr. Malfoy," grinned Hermione. "I still have time to change my mind…."
Draco's answer to that was in slinging Hermione around to land in his arms, then giving her a very slow and intense kiss. After a few moments, they heard someone clear their throat and looked up to see Molly standing there with a soup spoon in her hand.
"You do remember I've had seven children, right? So I know what that kind of kiss leads to, and I can assure you I have no desire to see you two go at…."
"Oi! There you are! Why did you leave the game?" asked a sweaty and red-faced Harry as he walked in and interrupted Molly.
"Don't think I didn't cotton on to what you were doing out there," huffed Draco. "I was tired of always being 'it'."
"I'll love you in spite of 'it'," giggled Hermione.
"See what I mean?" Draco groused. "You even have Hermione picking on me."
The rest of the Weasleys came in then, and soon all were rummaging around the kitchen looking for a snack.
"Woman! What use are you to us if you don't feed us?" pouted Fred.
"You see this?" Molly asked as she held up the spoon, "I'm about to feed your bum a helping of it."
Draco laughed as George whistled and said, "Yow! That kitty scratches, brother. Better to leave while you can."
"You two buffoons are just going about it the wrong way," said Harry. Sidling up to Molly, he gave her a one-armed hug while kissing her on the cheek and said, "Oh, Great Cook of the World, please delight us with your bounty….."
"Oh….go on, you lot. The cookies are over there," she said while twirling her wand to reveal the previously hidden treats.
"See? Works every time," Harry said as the cookies were passed around.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Later on that evening after supper, Draco and Hermione went outside to sit on the bench swing under the large oak by the garden. Hermione pulled her thick sweater more tightly to her slim frame. The night air still had a bite to it after the sun set, so Draco arranged his arm snugly around her and together, they softly rocked the swing back and forth.
"This time tomorrow you'll be my husband," murmured Hermione as she absently traced patterns on Draco's leg with her finger. "It seems unreal in some ways, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. If you'd told me this was my future when I was in first year, I would've thought you were wonky."
Hermione giggled. "That just goes to prove one can never predict the future." She sighed. "I always knew that was a rubbish study…"
"Prophecy is real, Love," Draco argued while rubbing his nose next to her ear. "It's just that true Seers are rare."
"Um…..guess you're right." Hermione couldn't think now that Draco was peppering kisses along her jaw.
"I've waited so long for you," mumbled Draco, changing the subject back to where his thoughts currently lay. "I cannot wait for tomorrow."
Hermione turned to look at him. "I've always wanted to ask…why did you?"
"Why did I what?" Draco had been so caught up in the moment, he had no idea what Hermione was talking about.
"Why did you wait? Um, I mean we've never….," Hermione paused, unsure as how to continue. "You know….made love…uh….did it have something to do with…me?"
Draco shook his head. "Absolutely not. I'm sorry, Love…..I thought you knew…understood."
"Well, obviously not, since I'm asking…..Draco….what is it?"
Hermione began to worry when Draco stood up from the swing and walked back and forth in front of it while running his fingers through his hair, never a good sign of his mental state, she'd learned from experience.
He sat back down and tenderly cupped her shoulders with his hands. "I never brought it up; firstly, because I'd hoped you'd already understood and secondly, because if you hadn't, I was afraid it would offend you….well, at least some of it. I didn't want to reopen any old wounds…."
Hermione was completely mystified. "Draco, I'm going to marry you in the morning. If you can't tell me things by now, then….."
He hushed her by giving her a sweet kiss. "I'll tell you….why….I've waited. It's all part of the difference between muggles and wizards."
Well, thought Hermione. I wasn't expecting that. She knew Draco would clam up if she kept interrupting, so she tried to appear calm so he would continue.
"You know how I was raised. You know about the Pureblood dogma. But aside from that, I was raised as a wizard, too. My beliefs were formed by being a magical being. As a wizard, I knew about the soul. I knew about spells and magic and acts that affected the soul." He saw Hermione was not understanding him, so he said, "Take Voldemort, for instance. He knew that an extreme act of violence would split his soul, right?"
"Yes…..he murdered to split his soul into seven to create the horcruxes."
"Yes. The spell was what created the horcrux with the piece of the soul inside it, but the actual splitting of the soul was from the extreme act of violence."
"Okay…so, what does that have to do with sex…"
"Other extreme acts can divide the soul as well. As a wizard, it was what I was brought up knowing. Let me ask you; what is the greatest, most extreme act one can do to show love?"
Hermione smiled wistfully at that and said, "I was always taught that it was dying in another's place. That there was no greater act of love."
Draco chuckled, "You always have to one-up me, don't you? Well, let me rephrase the question. What is the greatest act of love one can show while staying alive?"
"You're wanting me to say the act of sex."
He nodded. "I was raised believing when a wizard and witch performed this utmost act, their souls would divide to be merged together. That's why I was taught it was so important to try to find your other half. So the merging of my soul would bring wholeness to me and my true mate."
"Why would you think that would offend me? " asked Hermione. "I think that's beautiful."
Draco grimaced. "Because…..it was one of the reasons why I first thought muggles were animals. They seemed to have sex at the drop of a hat and went from partner to partner, without realizing what they were doing to their souls each time they performed the act. Just like an animal. So…..it made me think they must actually be like an animal, without a soul to worry about. I thought it proof that wizards were superior beings. And I hated that aspect of muggle culture spreading throughout the wizarding community."
Hermione squeezed Draco's hand. She understood his concern. She knew magic had given them insights to truths normal humans didn't have. "You know I have questions, Draco."
"Of course, you do. You are Hermione Granger, after all."
She chuckled, "You won't be able to say that after tomorrow. But what I was going to ask was, why did you allow the 'Slytherin Sex God' rumors at school? Doesn't that kind of go against what you just said?"
Draco smiled shamefacedly. "It does…but what can I say? I was an arrogant, hormonal kid that got a kick from witches thinking of me like that. It fed my ego. But you know…..," he playfully narrowed his eyes at Hermione, "there was never any truth in those rumors. I've already told you that, Love."
Hermione had another thought. "But what about Blaise….and Ginny?" Hermione knew Blaise was not Ginny's first. And if the rumors were true, she wasn't Blaise's first, not by a long-shot.
"Yeah…..Blaise was part of the reason I was so mad at the influence of muggle culture. It had contaminated my friend." He looked up then into Hermione's eyes, and she could see real worry there. "I'm afraid for him, Love. He's divided and merged his soul with so many women, I'm afraid all that's left of him now is a diluted shadow."
Hermione nodded. "Ginny may be in the same boat…..but Draco….how will that affect them?"
He sighed. "There may not be enough of their soul left to recognize who their true mate is." He rubbed her hand as he finished, "So…that's why I waited. I didn't want that fate. And even when I realized you were my other half, I wanted to wait."
"Why?"
"I did it to protect us. So others could never say I'd disrespected you because of your muggle heritage. That I had treated you like an animal. To prove to the world that I'd accepted you as my other magical half."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The morning came with the promise of a bright and glorious day. After the breakfast of bridal soup, everyone attending the wedding either flooed or apparated to the Malfoy's secluded estate. When Hermione and Draco apparated near the cliff by the sea, she'd at first clutched his arm, only to let go after she saw the breath-taking view.
"Oh…Draco….this is Heaven."
Draco looked at the familiar scene, then smiled devilishly. "This is nice, but I believe Heaven will be tonight."
"If you keep talking like that, Heaven may be right now," she grinned. Then, as it was sometimes inclined to do, reality hit Hermione like a ton of bricks as she looked at the handsome wizard before her…..this man with his beautiful blonde hair being whipped by the wind coming off the ocean… the sunshine causing his silvery grey eyes to glitter…..glitter and shine with love for her.
This is my mate…. my husband…the father of my children…..my soul…..
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The bonding ceremony itself had been simple. Dr. Granger had walked Hermione down a green carpeted pathway to where a beautiful arch of wisteria bloomed. There, surrounded by their family and friends, Draco and Hermione had declared their eternal vows of love and faithfulness to each other. Kingsley Shacklebolt had wrapped ribbons of green and crimson around their joined hands and performed the binding spell. Afterwards, one and all followed Draco and Hermione to the cliff where they were the first ones to offer blessing stones to the sea. Everyone followed suit with throwing a stone into the water to make either a wish or ask for a blessing on the couple and for all attending.
The reception immediately followed. How the wine flowed and how the spoons clinked the glasses, demanding a kiss from the bride and groom! And how happy Draco was to comply with each request. Fred and George teased him endlessly about the night to come, but he was now beyond reach of their mirth. Draco couldn't stop touching Hermione's hand, couldn't stop sneaking a kiss, couldn't stop embracing her whenever the opportunity arose to do so. He was married…this amazing witch beside him was his wife. It was if all his restraint before had finally died, and his very soul and body said now. Be made whole….NOW.
Soon, music was heard playing and couples began to dance on the lawn. After the first few dances, it dawned on Harry what no one yet had noticed. The bride and groom had slipped away and were nowhere to be found. Harry immediately went into the house to see if he could find Ron to help him look for them to make sure they were okay when he heard in the room up above him a shuffle, then a giggle, then a moan of "Oh...Dracoooo…."
Harry immediately went back outside after using a silencing charm on the entire upstairs, and when anyone asked him later if he'd seen or heard Draco or Hermione, he pretended he hadn't.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
And nearby the same cliff where the blessing stones had been tossed, a dark shadow loomed right beyond the wards. There had been a witness to today's joy. Rodolphus Lestrange was not a Malfoy, but he was a relative. He knew where all the Malfoy properties were. He knew what wards Lucius had spelled around them. And now he knew where the Malfoy family had been hiding; at least, it was what he assumed. He had felt additional wards on this estate when he'd come by to check on it and knew he'd been stopped from entering for a reason…..so he'd stayed to see why. It was a good thing for the groom he'd been stopped by the wards, or Rodolphus would have made himself quite the inconvenient wedding crasher. Yes, he smiled evilly, Draco's wedding night would have been quite different had he'd been able to apparate in.
But, no matter. Rodolphus had learned patience in Azkaban; he could wait.
And in the meantime, he would send to his Lord the good news…Lucius Malfoy had been found.