A/N – If you skipped Chapter 24 – Author's Note please go back and read it before you read this one or else you may find yourself a bit lost.

Chapter 25 – Yes Amelia There is a Dumbledore

Molly, Ginny and Ron were sitting around the table at the Burrow. They were silently contemplating the note (or, in Ron's case silently contemplating the silence and how he wanted to escape it back to his roome and run Quidditch plays in his brain) when Ginny spoke up.

"Mum, I want to be a Prewitt like you. Prewitt is a much better sounding strong Pureblood name. Besides I want to learn all I can from you."

Molly's heart was overjoyed. "Yes, Ginny, we'll get the papers signed tomorrow."

Ron then clued in, "Mum, I'd like to be a Prewitt too." Molly's heart sank as he continued, "There is nothing left for me as a Weasley in that I think Dad's conditions will be hard work and very restrictive."

Molly said, "If you both are adamant at not staying Weasleys then I will go down to the Ministry and fill out the appropriate paperwork."

The children were about to get up and leave when Molly said, "Ginny, can you please stay? We need some 'girl talk'."

Ron, hearing this took off as fast as he could. 'Girl talk' meant the things that a proper man should never know about.

Once he was gone, Ginny turned to Molly, "Are you really going to adopt him?"

Molly shook her head, "No. I'm going to adopt you but not Ron. By the end of the week he will be Ronald Bilius NoName. However you don't know how happy I am that you want to be a Prewitt. We are going to have so much fun!"

After a big Prewitt hug she looked at Ginny and said, "Can you leave me alone for now? I need to talk to Albus."

Ginny happily skipped off as Molly went to the floo. Soon they would be rid of the idiot once and for all.

/Scene Break/

Amelia and Susan arrived at twenty past six. Jeeves greeted them in the entrance hall and showed them to the sitting room.

Harry greeted them and introductions were made all around.

Once they were all seated, Harry spoke up, "Amelia, as I mentioned in your office, there is more information that you should know about what is going on in our world. My mother and Godfather discovered things that most people would find hard to believe. I only discovered this information the day we got back from school."

He gave Amelia and Susan the documents. Harry had given the permission for them to read them before Amelia and Susan arrived. He may like pranking people, but definitely not the Head of the DMLE – at least not before he got to know her better.

While Amelia was reading the stack of documents, Hermione gave Susan the old copy of Hogwarts – A History. Susan looked at Hermione strangely and Hermione responded with, "This may be the only know copy from it's time. Read the marked sections," she indicated about a half dozen bookmarks, "then you will get what makes this book special."

Harry, Luna Hermione and Neville sat back quietly and waited while the two visitors read. Every once in a while Harry would catch Luna and Hermione sharing knowing glances and then they would look at him briefly with a mirthful look spread across their faces. When he would gesture to Hermione to explain, she just shrugged her shoulders. He could not shake the feeling that something was up and it was starting to make him a bit nervous. The Order Eaters were very good at pranks.

Amelia was on an emotional roller coaster. She had gone from incredulity to dismay, through denial and was not just plain angry. This "Pureblood Conspiracy" was too surreal for her to initially comprehend, but by the time she got to the end of the documents she saw the puzzle pieces falling into place. "Merlin," she thought, "no wonder no one ever saw it. This has been going on for generations. The fact that the Bones family was not on the trusted list was not lost on her. It made her feel Susan and her were vulnerable.

The heirs of the founders are the key and she thought she figured out three of the identities based on the clues. Harry is probably Gryffindor, Hermione is Ravenclaw and based on Lily's deductions Luna was Hufflepuff. That just left the heir of Slytherin. No one had claimed that for years. There were those rumours going around …" Her brain froze.

Luna saw the look in Amelia's face and knew she just made the leap. "Amelia, you look shocked."

"Luna, it's about the heirs. Based upon what I've read you, Hermione, and Harry are the heirs of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Am I correct?" She continued once she saw the three nods, "Now that leaves the heir of Slytherin. That title had not been claimed for at least a half-century and then it was a crazy old pureblood named Gaunt. However there were rumours that he-who-must…" she caught Harry's look of dismay, "I mean Voldemort. Well there were rumours that he said he was the heir of Slytherin but it was never proven."

Hermione spoke up, "Amelia, Harry told us he showed you the memory of Albus Dumbledore in the orphanage changing the living conditions for a Thomas Riddle."

Amelia nodded. Susan looked up with a quizzical look on her face. Hermione saw it and said, "We can show you that later."

Turning back to Amelia, Hermione continued her tale, "Well Tom Riddle was obviously an orphan, but when he was born his name appeared on the Hogwarts register…" she let that hang in the air.

Amelia spoke up, "He was a wizard then. But this doesn't make sense. I don't remember a Magical family named Riddle. So the boy would have been muggleborn and was in a muggle orphanage. It doesn't answer why Dumbledore went out of his way to make the boy's life a living hell."

Luna spoke next, "Oh, he knew something about the boy which he tries to keep secret to this day. You see Thomas Riddle is named after his father – a muggle – who was under the effects of a love potion administered to him by the child's mother. Her name was Merope Gaunt. Tom Riddle Senior left Merope after she discontinued the love potions and he realized what she had done. We suspect he never knew she was pregnant and she is believed to have died shortly after giving birth."

Amelia sat back as the implications of this started to hit home. "But he was the last heir of a founder. Why would… oh – the prophecy. He wanted to do something to the heir of Slytherin."

Harry nodded grimly, "That incident at the orphanage was the first but far from the last time Dumbledore interfered with young Tom Riddle's life. In fact Tom Riddle will be coming by before dinner. However he did leave some memories for you to see beforehand. Would you like to see them now?"

Amelia and Susan nodded and they went over to the pensieve. Harry watched their body language as they relived some of Tom's memories. They showed the steps that led him along the way to becoming Lord Voldemort. When Amelia and Susan came out it was shortly before half past seven.

Amelia looked at Harry. "Harry, if what you showed me is correct then Tom Riddle is Lord Voldemort."

Harry nodded.

"And Voldemort has committed horrible acts."

Harry nodded.

"But yet you received these memories from him."

Harry nodded again.

Amelia started to become nervous, "Harry, have you led me into a trap?"

Neville jumped in because he saw where she was going, "Amelia, this is not a trap. Voldemort has been trying to kill Harry. You saw that in his memories from school right."

It was Amelia's turn to nod.

"Well Harry found a way to safely explain all of this information to Tom and when he realized that Dumbledore had manipulated his life and that even his own Death Eaters took orders from Dumbledore he had a change of heart. He is really trying to reform himself and has even gone through a painful reintegration of one of the horcruxes."

Amelia relaxed a bit. Hermione looked behind Amelia and saw Tom standing there. She said, "The Bones family is on the list of those not trusted. While you may think it hard now, we trust Tom. He is one of the four founders and we need him just as much as he needs us to thwart this pureblood conspiracy. Would you like to at least meet him before you make up your minds?"

Both Bones women nodded slowly. Hermione gestured behind them. "Amelia and Susan Bones, meet Thomas Marvolo Riddle, last remaining her of Salazar Slytherin."

Tom approach slowly and took each woman's hand in turn and kissed it just above the knuckle.

Once the initial nervousness was over, Tom answered all of Amelia's questions as Susan went through the memory of the orphanage. Amelia was still undecided when the call for dinner came but she thought she knew which side she was leaning toward.

/Scene Break/

Albus Dumbledore shook his head sadly at the announcement in the Prophet. He looked up at the ceiling of his office and said to no one in particular, "Harry my boy. I'm not sure what possessed you to publish this notice. The Malfoy line is all but dead now."

It was true. The note had all but said that Lucius was a marked Death Eater. Adoption was almost all but impossible. No agency would allow it and there weren't that many pureblood orphaned children past the age of fifteen.

(A/N – in my wizarding world an orphan aged 15 or higher can decide for themselves if they wish to be adopted into a willing family).

Lucius' political capital was worthless now too. Albus shuddered to think of the animal sounds that will once again echo through the Wizengamot if Lord Malfoy shows his face again.

Albus was interrupted as his fireplace flared. "Albus, it's Molly. May I come through?"

"Of course."

The fire flared again and Molly Weasley stepped out. Albus was shocked by her appearance. Her eyes were bloodshot and her nose was beet red.

"Molly what happened to you? Do you need to see Poppy?"

"It was a little accident with white pepper. I think I will see Poppy before I leave but I need to discuss something else with you first."

"Absolutely," he said clasping his hands together with a twinkle in his eyes, "Lemon drop?"

"No thank you Albus." Not being one above using potions on other, Molly could spot a potion delivery system from a mile away. She noticed that Albus never ate the lemon drops from the dish on his desk that he offered to guests. He had his own private stash.

"Albus I need to talk to you about this," she handed him the note. Albus paled as he read it and the twinkle disappeared. "There goes another source of funds," he thought as he turned to Molly, "And Ms. Prewitt I presume? Have you talked to you two youngest children?"

"Yes, neither wishes to remain a Weasley. I'm going to adopt Ginny as a Prewitt tomorrow."

"And Ronald?"

"I can't see any use for him Albus. He wants to be a Prewitt as well but I talked it over with Ginny. I won't adopt him and in a week he will be Ronald NoName."

Albus surprised Molly with a look of joy in his face. "This will work out well Molly. May I accompany you to the Ministry tomorrow? I have a proposition for Ronald NoName."

/Scene Break/

Dinner at the Potters was a very lively affair. Many conversations took place at once and everyone quickly accepted Amelia and Susan. Halfway through dinner Amelia looked around the table – the sight that greeted her eyes warmed her heart. Seated around the table talking and laughing was a cross-section of the wizarding world. Pureblood, half-blood and muggleborn, young and old, "Dark" and "Light" (not that those labels really meant anything), male and female all sat around the table as equals. This was how the whole wizarding world should be – not the one created by Albus Dumbledore and the families in the conspiracy.

She marveled at how fast she had taken a liking to Tom Riddle. She had a hard time equating the polite, charming man beside her with the image of the 'Dark Lord' even though his physical appearance still strongly resembled Voldemort. He was trying to change and Tom and Harry had explained the reintegration of the Horcrux and what it entailed. She was not surprised when Tonks arrived for dinner. Once she had been briefed on the information she knew why Tonks' loyalties lay with this group. Amelia herself found her loyalties to the Ministry of Magic dissipating as well. She had been concerned for a long time about where Fudge was going with the Ministry but had never had a viable alternative. Now she had one and was quickly warming up to the idea.

As she looked around the table again her eyes stopped on Harry. She marveled at the young man. Her first impression today was that Harry was very shy and reserved – who could blame him after the life he had led. However once you gained his trust, he relaxed and showed a very charismatic side of his personality. He was outgoing and just exuded a natural sense of leadership. Amelia saw what his 'club' saw in him – a leader who would go to any lengths to keep them safe. She also didn't fail to notice that Hermione was always at his side. Together they made a very nice couple.

Some of the people around the table were a surprise. Narcissa Malfoy – no Narcissa Black – was a surprise – especially the change in name and marital status. Severus Snape was another surprise. The usually dour and snarky potions master was also displaying a quite charming side particularly around a certain Ms. Black.

Amelia was also surprised with herself and Susan. Once the initial shock of the whole conspiracy had worn off she and her niece seemed to be welcomed and fit in almost immediately. Her whole worldview was in a state of upheaval because of these people here and yet she felt more comfortable than she did anywhere at the Ministry.

Just before nine more people started arriving. She was surprised to see many of the Weasley children especially Percy who was rumoured to have split from his family. He had brought along his girlfriend who Amelia recognized as one of the Canadian witches working in the Consular office.

Harry invited Susan and Amelia to stay for their meeting as everyone made their way to the sitting room. The elves seemed to be able to adapt the room to fit everyone comfortably. Harry stood up.

"OK, I'm glad to see everyone here. The first thing I want to do tonight is welcome Amelia and Susan Bones. I think they'll both be an invaluable addition to our cause."

Everyone greeted Amelia and Susan warmly. Harry continued, "Now we were supposed to have this meeting yesterday but it was postponed because Tom went through reintegrating one of his Horcruxes. I think Tom can best explain how that went."

Tom got up and looked around at everyone. "I was able to successfully reintegrate the Horcrux performing the reintegration ritual after consuming the required potion. Yes, Audrey you have a question?"

Audrey looked at him, "Tom I'm wondering about the potion. If creating a horcrux requires a ritual before committing murder, how does a potion help with the reintegration?"

"The potion prepares the host – in this case me – to accept the soul fragment back into my body and bind it with my remaining soul. Without the potion it would be harder to bind and I would most likely end up with a fractured soul." He noticed not only Audrey but also many of the group were now nodding with a new understanding.

He continued on, "I performed the ritual and the reintegration was successful if not painful. The Horcrux container was destroyed in the process. Now in case you are wondering what happened during the reintegration, I have talked it over with the other heirs and I will share the memory of the process at the end of the meeting."

"The fact that the Horcrux vessel was destroyed is very discouraging since we all know that a few days ago we discovered that when Harry deflected my curse as an infant I unwittingly made a Horcrux out of him when I 'died'. So a few of us have been researching all day today to see if there is a way we can save Harry and safely remove the Horcrux from him. Successfully reintegrating the Horcrux back into me is secondary to Harry's safety."

Before he could continue Fred and George got up. Fred started and they lapsed into their twin speak, "Actually my brother and I"

"Came up with the perfect answer."

"Harry will go and tell Dumbledore"

"He knows everything about the conspiracy."

"And that he has"

"A whole group of people who know"

"And are willing to fight the purebloods"

"Dumbledore will try to convince Harry"

"To tell him who these people are"

"And convince him to change sides."

"Harry will tell him"

"He would rather die than reveal the names"

"Or join the Purebloods."

"Harry has to willingly"

"Let Albus cast the killing curse at him."

"Without fighting back."

"Harry's selfless sacrifice"

"Will protect us all from Albus"

"Like Harry's mother's sacrifice protected him."

"But Harry won't die because Albus"

"Will have killed the Horcrux."

And then in unison they said, "Problem solved."

There was silence in the room for a second and then Hermione got up.

"You mean to suggest that Harry willingly sacrifice himself for the off-chance that the killing curse will just home in on the Horcrux and kill just it instead of Harry?"

The twins grinned and nodded.

Hermione continued, "That is the stupidest idea I ever heard. Where in Merlin's name did you come up with it?"

"Well, we just sat around and thought"

"What would Dumbledore do?"

"And we figured based on his history with Harry,"

"That he knew about the Horcrux and would have said"

"Something similar about going to face Tom."

"We just wanted to see"

"If anyone here"

"Was gullible enough to buy it."

That released the tension in the room as everyone had a good laugh. Many however could not shake the feeling that the twins may have been spot on in their assessment of Dumbledore's motives toward Harry.

As everyone settled back down Harry could see that glint in Hermione's and Luna's eyes that he saw earlier. Hermione started to speak, "Actually Harry, Luna came up with a better solution which we think is a better solution."

Luna got up and walked up to the front of the room. "The answer was quite simple really. I just looked at the Horcrux in Harry as though he was being possessed by the soul of a deceased person. There are many magical ways to exorcise a possessed person, but there is only one thing that will help anchor the person's own soul in their bodies."

Harry was very interested, "What's that Luna?"

"A soul bond of course."

There were gasps around the room. Harry didn't get it, "Luna, I've never heard of soul bonds. What are they?"

Hermione spoke up instead of Luna, "Harry, haven't you ever read Teen Witch Weekly? They mention soul bonds at least once every issue. But the problem is that they have mentioned a number of ways of a soul bond forming namely:"

"Growing up close with your true love."

"Sharing a deep and meaningful kiss with the one and only person you are destined to be with."

"The first time you make love with your one and only. Sometimes they even write about bright lights and loud sounds as the bond establishes."

"Where was I, oh yeah – Touching your true soul mate for the first time."

"And finally my personal favourite – saving someone you truly love from certain death."

Harry was confused about this and it was showing. Luna now continued, "But in reading about soul bonds in the library here at the manor, I realized they were all wrong for the most part. First of all you have to find someone you love. Someone whose happiness you put ahead of yours and who feels the same way about you."

"Secondly there is a ritual. Both parties must partake in the ritual willingly and without apprehension. I will get back to the ritual shortly."

"The soul bond when complete will anchor both souls to their respective bodies. It should make sure that the Horcrux will be the only soul extracted from your body and the bond will also ensure your body does not get consumed when the Horcrux is removed. Bonded can also sense each other's emotions even over great distances."

Narcissa spoke up, "Luna you forgot some of the other side effects. You will be considered married in the eyes of the wizarding world. If one of you dies the other will die within hours. You can never separate for more than a few days at most. You will share your magic with each other and become extremely powerful. You will be driven to procreate."

Harry had grown noticeable paler. Especially when Hermione came up to him and started stroking his arm with a hungry look on her face. "Harry," she said, "I want to bond with you."

Harry was touched by the love and scared shitless about everything else. Just when he thought the moment could not get more uncomfortable, Severus spoke up, "We forgot to explain the ritual. You and Hermione must make love on a ritual pedestal – in the centre of Stonehenge, at the precise moment of the Equinox. The rest of us will form a circle and chant the bonding chant."

"What you will be there?" Harry asked. This was getting worse for him all the time.

"Yes Harry, Don't worry about embarrassment, we will all need to be naked as well."

Harry could not answer because at this point he fell back in his chair. Visions of everyone around him in the room being naked and watching as he and Hermione, well, you know. A terrible though came into his mind, "Hermione, your parents…"

"Will be there too," she interrupted. "I've already explained it to them and while they were reluctant at first they agreed to participate since it will make the bond stronger."

Harry had not turned very white. "Th-th-they have to be there too?"

"The more relatives you have there helps strengthen the bond. We even wanted to invite your relatives when they get back from vacation. Unless you think it's better not to invite them."

The thought of naked Dursleys was too much to bear. Harry fell back in his seat and looked like he was about to pass out. Suddenly he heard the snickers and then full out laughter. He looked around and suddenly he knew why Hermione and Luna had that look all day.

"What?" He said which only caused the laughter to get louder. Hermione came and sat on his lap wrapping her arms around him. "Harry, most of it was a joke. We wanted to see how embarrassed you would get."

Harry finally got it and pouted, "That is so not funny." Hermione grabbed him down into a kiss. That got him to lighten up.

"OK, OK." He said to everyone, "Now how much of that was real?"

Luna ticked off on her fingers, "Bond anchors soul, able to sense emotions, there is a ritual but has nothing to do with Stonehenge and copulating in front of naked Dursleys."

"What is the ritual then?"

Hermione bit her lip for a moment and then said, "We have to swear our love and souls to each other. That's is the most dangerous part – if we fail, one or both of us could die. The oath will only work on two people truly in love. There could be other side effects, the last known bonding was so long ago there is no detailed record."

"Harry, I want to go through with this. I can't afford to lose you – I love you too much. What you have to decide is if you love me as much as I love you."

Over the past week, Harry had begun to realize that what he did feel was love. "Yes Hermione, I do love you." He kissed her again. As he hugged her he whispered in her ear, "but I'm still going to get you guys back for that prank." She smiled and hugged him tighter.

Severus spoke up again, "Can you two please take it outside. We need to continue this meeting."

Harry got up again and addressed the room, "Now that we have our group together we need to plan how we are going to approach our common problem. Our highest priority is to get the rest of the Horcruxes back into Tom. With any luck, once we have Tom Riddle back and whole we can get rid of Lord Voldemort once and for all and force Dumbledore's hand. The second thing we have to do is for the four of us to walk into Hogwarts together as friends and allies. According to the prophecy we need to do that to wake the castle. Unlike the two groups who we take our name from, we don not need a group that is driven from the top down. You are all competent, intelligent wizards and witches. I suggest we split into working subgroups. For instance, Amelia, Tonks, Percy, Audrey and Arthur should probably get together and come up with a strategy for dealing with the Ministry to collect information immediately and long term plans to deal with the purebloods in charge. Fred, George, Remus and Severus – you can work on how to demoralize our foes and also weapons such as potions or pranks. Narcissa, Andromeda and Augusta can work out a strategy to either neutralize the Wizengamot or swing enough of the votes to our side. Susan, you can help us with our planning to get to Hogwarts. Bill and Fleur, Griphook and Ragnok know that you side with us. See if you can work with them and come up with ideas to legally hinder their finances. Luna, you and your father can also come up with a public relations campaign.

Harry was amazed at how fast the working groups got together to strategize. Amelia noticed once again the leadership qualities in Harry and the fact that he came up with teams and responsibilities off the top of his head and now the whole group was enthusiastically working with it.

The meeting broke up shortly thereafter with the individual groups agreeing to meet and go over ideas for action. Tom put his memories of the reintegration into the penseive and the group took turns viewing it. All cam out with the same thought – they did not envy what Tom Riddle had to go through to get himself back.

Amelia was especially affected by the scene of Tom with his father's family – her heart went out to the man in front of her but at the same time she knew that it was necessary for him to face the consequences of his actions.

/Scene Break/

After the meeting Harry had bid everyone goodnight and had returned to his room. After a long, hot shower he changed into his pajamas and was surprised as he walked out of the bathroom to see Hermione in his bed waiting for him. He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Um, hi," he said as he tried to act cool while his teenage hormones started going into high gear, "couldn't sleep?"

Hermione giggled to herself at his awkwardness. She patted the bed next to her and said, "Come over here and get in bed. I had a great night's sleep last night once you calmed down and I'd like to try it without all the screaming at the beginning," adding silently to herself, "at least for now." That silent thought put a smile on her face and made her blush.

Harry thought about how nice it was to wake up with Hermione and made his way to the bed. He got under the covers with her and they lay on their sides facing each other. Both of them silently stared into the others eyes until Harry noticed something.

"Hermione, what's bothering you?"

"Oh Harry, it has to do with the soul bond."

"Are you having second thoughts? I don't want you to doe anything you don't want to."

"Harry, you can't force a soul bond to form. It you tried to force a soul bond to form between two people who didn't love each other the backlash would probably kill them. The two people have to be very sure they are in love with each other before they attempt the bonding."

"Then what is bothering you?"

Hermione surprised him by enveloping him in a hug. He quickly got over his surprise and hugged her back. While the feeling was very nice, he became concerned as he felt small movements through her body and realized she was crying. "Hermione?" He started to stroke her hair gently. "Hermione, please tell me what's wrong?"

"It's not fair Harry. Why do you have to put up with so much shit in your life? Why do you always have to be the one life wants to dump on? Why do you have to be an effing Horcrux?" The sobs started to lessen as she relaxed in Harry's arms.

"Hermione, it's OK. Like you guys said, the soul bond will protect me and we'll be able to get rid of the Horcrux." He pulled back enough so that they were face-to-face. "There's something more." I wasn't a question. "Hermione, if you can't go through with the bond I understand."

Hermione quickly realized what he meant and said, "Harry James Potter, never ever think that I don't love you with all my heart and soul. The reason I'm worried is that there are other possible side effects or outcomes we didn't discuss in front of everyone."

"Hermione, please don't cry. They can't be that bad." Harry said this as he wiped her tears from her face and kissed her lightly. "What are these other side effects?"

"There's quite a few Harry. I need to just collect my thoughts for a moment." She took a few deep breaths. Being this close to Harry did calm her down, but she was having a hard time concentrating on talking being this close to him.

"OK. Let's start with the bonding. There are a number of things that can happen with the bond. First of all, the bond could end up being permanent. We would always have a connection between us."

"And this is a problem how?"

"Harry, what happens when you find the woman you want to spend your life with? You don't want to stay connected to me."

"Hermione, Being the head of multiple family lines, I need to be very picky about who I would Marry. There are appearances to keep up."

Hermione looked downtrodden and appeared to be ready to cry again. She had been hoping that Harry would not agree so quickly with her last statement. She looked at him again as he continued – bracing herself for the next words.

"And so I would need to choose someone who has a title as well, perhaps Lady Ravenclaw. I'm not sure anyone could top that."

Hermione couldn't bring herself to say anything. In all her worries she had forgotten that she had yet to claim her title. She just hugged Harry as hard as she could.

He backed away so he could see her face again. "Hermione, being permanently bonded to you is not a bad side effect n my eyes."

"Oh Harry!" She kissed him deeply as she once again realized why she loved this wizard.

Once the kiss was over she continued, "There is also the possibility that we will be able to read the other's mind. We may not be able to shield out thoughts from each other. The books inferred that this had happened before, but there was no concrete examples."

"I think that would take us both some getting used to. I'm worried for you though since sometimes I'm not even comfortable with my own brain. What else?"

"Well, there are things that can happen during the Horcrux removal. Instead of doing just the Horcrux reintegration ritual, we thought it better to try an exorcism first to get the soul fragment out of your body and then direct the reintegration ritual at it instead of you."

"Sounds like a good plan."

"It was the best we could come up with. But and exorcism is very tricky. If it is done wrong the soul fragment could integrate with your soul instead of being expelled. The soul bond should strengthen your soul against that, but Tom is very powerful and there is a small chance it could overpower the protections of the soul bond. If that happens his soul fragment will integrate with both our souls. Harry, there was one documented case of possession where the integration happened. The person only survived for a few days. And that wasn't even a full soul fragment possessing the person."

"So you are saying the 'safest' method of removing the Horcrux could end up killing us both? Hermione, I'm not sure this is …"

"Harry James Potter," she said for the second time that night, "it is only a possibility. I'm willing to risk it because I think our bond would be so strong that nothing could interfere with it." She said this to him in a firm, no-nonsense voice and he could see the passion blazing in her eyes.

"I just don't want to lose you."

"Harry, I don't want to lose you! Harry you should remember I am the person in this relationship who thinks things through. I'm the worrier about what might happen. I'm the one who sat with my parents for two hours this afternoon going over all of the possibilities." Tears started flowing again. "When I saw what was left of the Horcrux, I imagined it was you. Harry, I. Can't. Lose. You. This is the best way for us to continue. We don't think Hogwarts will accept Tom if any of his Horcruxes exist and I don't think you can live a long life with it stuck in your head. This is the best way to get rid of it."

Harry wiped her tears away again. "Hermione, I don't care about any more of the potential complications. You are right. If you've planned and researched this and want to go ahead with it then I will trust you to make the decision for both of us. I just have one question though, why did you guys prank me earlier."

She blushed and looked down, "It was really Luna's idea first. She wanted you to loosen up a bit more and thought that the prank would be a good idea. As soon as Severus and Tom heard it they were on board and Severus brought Narcissa into it as well. I thought it would be good fun as well. I … I'm sorry if we embarrassed you too much." She looked down, refusing to meet his eyes.

He lifted her chin so he was looking straight into her chocolate brown eyes, "It was brilliant," he whispered softly, "I mean, how can I be the son of Marauders, part of the Potter and Black lines, and a friend of the Weasley twins and not be able to appreciate a good prank even if I was the target." He chuckled remembering the pranks and then an involuntary shudder went through him.

Immediately concerned, Hermione asked, "What's wrong?"

He shook his head to try and clear the thought and said, "The image of naked, chanting Dursleys."

Hermione shuddered at the image in her head and they both started giggling.

They lay for a while just looking into each other's face and smiling the silly stupid smile that young people in love seem to have no problem getting. After a while Harry asked the question that had been on his mind when he first entered the room to find her there, "Hermione, do your parents know you are here? I don't want your dad to kill me."

"Yes. After waking up yesterday morning in your arms, it felt so right that I knew this was where I wanted to spend my nights. I talked with them about it this afternoon when we were talking about the soul bond."

"And what was there reaction?"

"Harry, you have to understand that the past few years have been hard on my parents. As soon as I started going to Hogwarts, they felt they started losing their daughter. They could not protect me where I was going and it scared them. Over the years they've heard about the things we've been up to and came to realize that while I was in danger and they could not do anything they could trust in one thing – you. This summer when I told them about us as a couple they were shocked, but the few days they've spent here and with us they can see that we both care very deeply for each other. They may not be completely comfortable with me being here, but they understand why. They remember being young and in love."

She paused and blushed, "They had one request though."

"What is it?"

"They don't want grandchildren for a few more years."

Harry paused for a moment before he realized what they meant. "Oh. Oh my. Um. Hermione. Um. I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet."

Hermione looked at him. "Harry, I'm not sure I am either. Let's not worry about it right now. There's no pressure to do anything we aren't ready for," her expression changed and there was a glint in her eye, "unless," she said in her best husky voice, "you really want to take a trip to Stonehenge."

Harry looked at her in shock. She started shaking again then she snorted and started laughing. It broke the tension and he started laughing too. They ended up again in each other's arms.

"Hermione?" Harry pulled back and looked at her again, "Do you know what needs to be done to perform the bond?"

"Yes, we need to point our wands at each other's heart and say the incantation – it's actually more of an oath."

"OK Let's do it."

"Are you sure?"

"Hermione, I don't think that waiting will change anything. If you are ready I am too."

"OK"

Harry and Hermione retrieved their wands and Hermione had Harry repeat the words a few times to make sure he knew them.

They sat up on the bed facing each other. They drew their wand and each pointed them at the other's heart."

"I Hermione Jean Granger swear to the Magical Realm that I intend to bond my soul with that of Harry James Potter-Black. I love him with all my heart and soul." A bright white pulse jumped from her wand into Harry's heart and a tendril of light emerged from her chest and connected to Harry's chest.

"I Harry James Potter-Black swear to the Magical Realm that I intend to bond my soul to Hermione Jean Granger. I love her with all my heart and soul." A similar pulse emerged from Harry's wand and another tendril of light appeared. This one connected Harry to Hermione. Once both tendrils were in place the two were pulled together so that their bodies were touching and when their lips me there was a bright flash. When the light died down, Harry and Hermione collapsed unconscious onto the bed.

A/N – OK, so now you know it's a soul bond. However I don't want this story to turn into the "invincible soul-bonded couple" story. Not that there is anything wrong with those, but there are a lot of them. No, the soul bond will have its side effects – some bad, some good and some … well let's just say I may have 'fun' with this.

For those who are reading The Power He Knows Not I know I promised another chapter, but I had to get this plot bunny out of my head first. The response I got to my last chapter was so great I just had to write this one. I also wanted to make sure any readers who didn't read the "Author's Note" would get a chance when they saw this chapter.

TTFN