I do not in any way, shape, fashion, or form own or have any rights to the world or characters which are the machinations of J. K. Rowling. I did however create the OC in this story and would appreciate that all my fellow writers respect this fact.

Chapter 14

Hermione rolled her eyes at me once more, "Hmm how about we start with how the bond will affect us both smarty pants." I let out a heavy sigh then chuckled, "I suppose it would be pointless to ask if you would prefer the annotated version?" Hermione gave me The Look and said my name in a warning tone, "Arianna…"

I exhaled a slow deep breath and tucked my head between her neck and shoulder. I wanted Hermione to understand that it wasn't that I was trying to keep her in the dark but that it was really difficult for me to admit how deep the bond went. I was afraid it would overwhelm her and cause her to distance herself from me. However I know that with Hermione I can't hold back.

I closed my eyes, rested my forehead against her shoulder and began, "The bond we share is not your typical soulmate bond it doesn't just connect our souls or our magical cores it connects all that we are to the other. It connects my body to your body, my mind to your mind, my soul to your soul, and my magical core to your magical core. That is why when the bond has completed itself there will be distinct aspects of each of us in the other."

I slowly opened my eyes and breathed in her scent as I allowed what I had said to sink in. I willed myself to stay as still and calm as I could.

I was a little miffed that Arianna had even jokingly suggested giving me the annotated version however I waited patiently for her to begin speaking. As I waited I began to notice the changes in her behavior and how her feelings seemed to shift from slightly nervous at first to almost panicked and afraid. What was she afraid of?

I felt her rest her forehead on my shoulder and I listened to her intently as she spoke. When she had finished speaking I took it to mean that she was waiting to see how I would react to what she had said. I was intrigued to say the least as to what this could mean, as to how these changes would occur and what would change as the bond progressed.

I could feel the tension in her body as she waited. "What exactly does that mean Arianna?" She nuzzled my neck before responding, "We will be able to speak to each other mind to mind. I will feel your emotions as if I were the one feeling them and vice versa. I will always be able to find you no matter where you are to the point that I will be able to apparate to where you are without ever having been there myself. Your magical abilities will grow and expand to the point where you may even be able to control creatures of fire as I do and I may be able to do things that you specialize in that I have never had training in."

She took in a steadying breathe before continuing, "Also once I have…survived my trial and undergone my final transformation I will no longer age and neither will you." She paused momentarily, "There are other things as well but I'm not certain how the bond will progress so I can't completely be sure what other possible changes will occur but those will be the most noticeable ones."

"We will no longer age?" I looked at her questioningly, truly shocked by the revelation, though I should have guessed her reaction to my state of shock. Arianna's face became a mask of pain as she attempted to push away from me almost in tears.

After her initial reaction and the following explanation I was fine until I felt her sense of shock set in through the bond. The ensuing question sent my already panicked state into overdrive. I was almost in tears at the thought of this being the one thing that could possible break a relationship that had barely had the chance to begin.

I tried to push away from Hermione and turn myself over into a little ball so she couldn't see me cry but she held me to her and refused to let me go. I didn't have the strength to resist her so I stopped struggling, simply going limp in her arms. Hermione gazed at me for a moment gauging whether or not she could loosen her hold on me. Then she pulled me into her, her body flush against mine and I wept then gasped as pain began to radiate from my chest.

I felt her worry as my entire body tensed from the pain and did my best to calm down as she began to stroke my hair and rub my back in soothing circles.

I wasn't expecting the reaction she had when I had asked the question. After trying to push away from me to no avail and even in her weakened state holding her to me was no small feat, she finally went limp in my arms. I gazed at her for a moment I didn't think she would try pulling away again but I wanted to be sure. I pulled her flush against me in hopes that it would relieve her panic.

Arianna started crying and then her whole body tensed seizing up in pain due to the wracking sobs in the aftermath of her tears. I instantly began to worry that her already overtaxed lungs might stop working so I began running my hands through her hair and rubbing her back in an attempt to calm her down.

After a while when she seemed to have settled I kissed her forehead, "I'm not going anywhere but I need you to help me understand what we will both be going through as the bond progresses because there is little to no research available for me to find the answers that I need."

"I'm…sorry, I'm sorry, I just…," Arianna let out a heavy sigh. "Could you help me sit up and I need some more dragon juice." I helped her into a sitting position; she flinched then let out a low hiss as she settled. I handed her a glass of juice and waited for her to finish drinking before I sat it back on her bedside table.

As I adjusted the pain seemed to subside to a manageable degree. "I'm sorry I panicked, I'm just worried, terrified actually that what I'm telling you will be too much. You've only just realized how you feel for me." I took Hermione's hand in mine and started to draw random patterns in her palm with my finger. "It was a lot even for me when I learned how much of myself I would be sharing with someone it unnerved me to say the least. However, back to the question at hand, the typical term of service for an elemental knight is 150 years so of course aging for either of us would be problematic."

Hermione laid her head on my shoulder as she thought. I rested my cheek on her head as I entwined our fingers and relaxed as best I could. I smirked, at least she wasn't yelling at me. "Why one hundred and fifty years?" I chuckled and squeezed her hand, "I have no idea though he does require time to find replacements for us once we retire." "Hmmm, is that so, so what happens when you retire?"

I took a deep inhale of her scent, "If we manage to survive 150 years of service we are given the option to continue aging and live out our lives however we see fit." I closed my eyes and listened to her thoughts as I waited for her to ask the next question. It was honestly beautiful to behold how she managed to make order out of the chaos in her mind and when she had finally decided on the question she wished to ask, I answered her before she could say it aloud.

"It is problematic because what I will be doing for my father will require my body to be in pique condition at all times. The job we do for him is kind of like being an Auror but with worldwide jurisdiction. A younger body heals faster, responds more quickly, and we won't suffer the mental degeneration that comes with age. As far as you are concerned by allowing our mates to stop aging with us saves us from having to watch them age and eventually die long before our term of service is up. In essence we don't have to suffer the possible emotional and mental breakdown that would be caused by watching our mates slowly age and die long before we do."

I stroked Hermione's hair letting her process all that had been said and what it meant.

There was a lot to think about but I didn't think this was a decision to be made so much as one that was meant to be accepted. It seemed almost unfair to have the one you were meant to love for the rest of your life, however long that may be, chosen for you by fate but at the same time it felt like the greatest gift that fate itself could give.

I let myself relax into Arianna's arms and simply enjoyed the sensation of her fingers running through my hair. I focused on feeling the situation and realized how at home I felt as I wrapped my arm around her waist and snuggled closer. I felt her smile into my hair as she kissed the top of my head.

There was one last question I had to ask and I didn't think she was going to like it but I needed to know. "What would happen to you if I were to deny the bond?" Arianna flinched and stopped stroking my hair but didn't try to push me away like before. She let out a slow deep breathe, "The bond has already begun in earnest and as it is I will no longer be able to sleep without you at night until the bond is complete. Though in some ways it is a third of the way if not almost half way there and while we are bonded mentally and almost completely emotionally the physical element will not be completed until we… well until we give ourselves to each other physically without reservation and then is when our magical cores will seal the bond."

I rose up on an elbow and eyed Arianna, "Okay so you won't be able to sleep without me next to you?" She nodded her head in the affirmative. "Drop the other shoe Arianna." She looked at me pleadingly then closed her eyes and continued when I didn't relent, "If you were to refuse the bond and… me due to lack of sleep I wouldn't be able to leave this room because my emotions would be too unstable and due to the feelings of rejection and lack of sleep I would go insane and then die though it would take me seven days as opposed to the typical four."

I blinked in shock then watched her as she cautiously opened one eye before slowly opening the other. I sighed heavily then shoved my face into her shoulder. "Owww! Hermione?" She began stroking my hair again, "I love you, and I'm sorry, I know this is a lot to take in." I looked up at the despair in her tone and saw the sadness in her beautiful green eyes as she did her best to smile at me. She gently took my face in her hands, "Just… please I need you."

It was in that moment that I knew I could never deny her because she had offered me everything that she was with that one statement and even though I wasn't ready to take all that she offered I would be with time and I knew she would wait. I was home.

I smirked at her no doubt a devious glint in my eyes, "So exactly how do you expect we explain the fact that we have to sleep in the same bed to the Headmistress because I can't imagine she is going to take that very well?" A smile lit her face banishing the sadness, "I haven't the foggiest." Then she kissed me her mouth taking possession of mine with a searing heat and passion that reached the tips of my toes, her tongue as nimble and agile as a cat. She hummed and I moaned in response.

Well ladies and gentlemen my apologies for how long it has taken me to post again however life has just totally sucked as of late. Anyways as always reviews are appreciated. Thanks for reading.