Apparently my chapter titles are too long to post...

A Discussion of a Confrontation Pursuation

She opened her eyes and knew instantly where she was. The Hospital Wing. She closed her eyes once more and put her hands to her head. The headache was gone, but now her brain felt so full. So many memories. Instinctively she moved her hand to Perannar for comfort and found nothing. With a gasp she sat up. Where had he gone? She jumped from the bed, and began searching for him, ignoring those around her instead she searched for her gorgeous snake. A thought was trying to appear, but she wouldn't let it. Wouldn't even acknowledge it's existence. She started to hyperventilate, and began to call out in parseltongue. Feeling her distress, snakes all around Hogwarts began trying to make their way into the Hospital Wing.

She heard the screams of fear from those outside of the Hospital Wing, as well as those inside of it, but she didn't acknowledge them. Instead she collapsed to the floor as snake after snake made their way to their hurt kin. They immediately realized that this female snake had lost her children. They had been stolen from her. They didn't know who, but they hissed and defended the large oddly shaped snake mother from those who approached, human and non.

She was too consumed in her grief to acknowledge it happening. She felt scales moving over her, comforting her, but they weren't the same. They hissed death threats for those who had hurt her, they promised she would have more snakelets. But it was all for naught. She knew, as her heart ached, that they were gone forever. She remember the words of Odder from before she had her memories. They had given up their souls so that she could be alive again. They had again given themselves up for her. She cried until she ran out of tears to shed, and then remained where she was, breathing deeply trying to hold her despair in.

Eventually a numbness set over her, and the snake all said their goodbyes as one by one they left her. But she couldn't ask them to stay, they had prey to hunt and nests to guard. When the last one was gone, she sat up slowly and looked at those around her. A worried group of individuals surrounded her, but all seemed hesitant to approach her. They were those she knew from both lives. McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey, both of whom she knew better as Ostara then as Willow. Sinistra who she knew better as Ostara. Albus Potter, the most recent person she had loved... she turned to the last two. Draco and George. They were both older now, both had filled into who they were. She remembered the smell of each of them, that hadn't changed. Draco, the dark one, full of lust... George, the loving one, full of passion... and both wore wedding bands.

It was as if the two bands of metal fell into her stomach. She blinked slowly... and then she remembered her years as a Hogwarts ghost. Fury filled her and she stood and point Ostara's wand at them both. "How dare you!"

"Willow..." George began.

"Stop! I was a ghost here for SEVENTEEN YEARS! I never ONCE saw hide or hair of either of you. For all I knew, you were dead! If it hadn't been for the rumors about both of you over the years, I would have thought it to be true. Why didn't you come!"

George took a deep breath. "Willow, we would have come. But I didn't trust him."

"I. WAS. A. GHOST! What possible thing could he have done to me, that you didn't do to me by not showing up!"

George bowed his head. Draco decided that he had the right to speak up. "I would have come if it hadn't been for this Weasley making me take a vow never to set foot on Hogwarts as long as you were a ghost."

"DON'T YOU DARE USE THAT EXCUSE DRACO MALFOY!" Malfoy flinched. "You didn't have to take that vow. And you," She turned on George again, "What was stopping you?"

"I didn't seem fair... and I promised..." George gave up trying to explain and lowered his head further. Her fury grew and she was tempted to use her Father's lessons to remove them from the planet altogether. But then she remembered the rings. These two may not deserve to live after the pain they inflicted on her, but that didn't mean she would punish their wives... or partners. Even if Malfoy's son was a little...

Movement in her pocket had her freezing to lift out a baby snake. It was an albino baby snake, hardly big enough to fit into her hand, but skinnier than her smallest finger. Her attention diverted she spoke to the snake "Little one, where do you belong?"

At first she was worried that it was too young to understand, but then in a choppy response she heard. "Dead is where I belong. Mother abandoned."

She immediately thought on all the snakes that had comforted her earlier. She couldn't help wondering whether leaving the snake here had been an accident or on purpose by it's mother. Regardless of the reason, the snake would be killed should it return. Either way, it had been abandoned. "Would you like to stay with me little one?"

"Yes. You are warm, big. You can protect. When I big. I protect." Smiling fondly at the snake she slipped it into her breast pocket where it was much warmer. The snake immediately fell asleep. When she looked up, she found that the two men had fled, but she didn't care anymore. The pain they had caused her, she had had seventeen years to heal from. Plus it did wonder to be able to yell at them. She smirked at the remains of the group, as though they could hear her thought.

But looking at the group brought her eyes to Albus. The hurt from that wound was still fresh. "May we have a moment please?"

There was a pause, before Madam Pomfrey ushered them into her office. Inside, Albus stood awkwardly by the door. However she immediately sat in the chair. The silence lasted only a moment before she broke it. "Why did you do it?" She hated that her voice caught. That she couldn't yell at him like she had done the others. He said nothing, so she clarified. "Why did you date Ostara if you didn't like Ostara."

He mumbled. "You are Ostara."

New anger filled her and she stood, pointing a finger at him. "No I'm not! I'm not Ostara, and I'm not Willow!"

"Than who are you?" He asked emboldened.

"I don't know!" She yelled, before she fell into the chair. "I'm not either of them. I have their memories. I have their pain. Their anger. But I am not them!" She stood again and paced in the small space. Before she remembered that the conversation had gotten off track. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT TO OSTARA!"

He bowed his head, and if she hadn't been in this small room with him, she might not have heard what he said. "They were the same person, just different memories. I couldn't have... Willow was a ghost. But Ostara was a girl. She was my age. She wanted me just as much as I wanted her..."

"Do you realize the hurt she went through when she found out why you did those things? Do you realize the hurt I suffered? They weren't the same person! They aren't."

"I know that now..." He whispered again. She was struck with the realization that he was so much younger then her. Perhaps it had been her years as a ghost, but she had the suspicion it was actually because her childhood was not as coddled as this generations were. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, the Weasleys, even Draco Malfoy. They had all been forced to be older then they were to survive. But Albus had never had that. Ostara had that, it was why she could be with him. But she couldn't. She knew too much.

"Well... it looks like you ruined your chances."

Albus looked up. "But..."

"No buts!" She bit out.

"You don't understand. The reason I was drawn to Willow, and Ostara. The reason that you got hurt when you hurt me. We're bound."

She felt the breath leave her. "What?"

"While you were sleeping, I mentioned it to Madam Pomfrey. They confirmed it. We're bound to each other. We have a bond."

She didn't listen, she pushed past him and went straight to Madam Pomfrey. "Is what he said true? Do we have a bond?"

Madam Pomfrey glared at Albus behind her but than nodded her head. "Yes you do. After talking about it with Albus, I believe it was made when you possessed his body as a ghost."

"Is there anyway to get rid of it?"

Madam Pomfrey shook her head sadly. "There is not. This is a permanent soul bond. It's rather rare but we do know that there is nothing we can do about it."

"What does it require?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do I have to live with him? Do I have to have sex with him? What does it require?"

Madam Pomfrey turned a little red, and she was surprised to see it was a blush. "The requirements have already been fulfilled."

She was reminded of the times she had spend with Albus as Ostara and nodded her head. "What are you going to do?" Professor McGonagall asked.

She thought about it. "I will stay here for a short while. I will find out who I am. What my name is. And then I will leave."

"Leave?" This time it was Sinistra who spoke up. In an uncharacteristic display for both Willow and Ostara, she gave the woman a hug. She may not have known her very well as Willow, but she had been a great support for Ostara.

"I will stay in contact with you of course!" Sinistra smiled at her, and hugged her again.

"Where will you go?" McGonagall asked.

"I plan to finish school."

"Here?" McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

"No. I think I will go to... Durmstrang."

"Why Durmstrang?"

"I want to completely restart. Beauxbatons already had a connection to Ostara, even if it a fake one. Besides, I might do well in the very strict schooling of Durmstrang."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Well I will help you, if you would like. I can send a letter to their Headmaster."

"I would appreciate that Headmistress."

There was a noise, and they all looked to find Odder standing there, his ears badly burnt. She immediately got on her knees and with the castle's help, healed the elf's ears. Odder spoke up. "Odder would like to go with the Miss."

McGonagall paused before nodding her head. "Very well."

She said nothing she just hugged the house-elf to her. "You can stay in my rooms for the rest of your stay." Sinistra offered, and she smiled but shook her head.

"I would like to stay in my room. Odder, do you still have the chair?" She was glad she didn't have to explain what chair because Odder nodded enthusiastically. "Please put it in my room, I would love to know how it feels to sit in."

"Of course Miss." And with that Odder disappeared.

"If you don't mind, I am going to say some final farewells." The Professors all nodded, and Albus Potter looked like he wanted to say something, but noticed the Headmistress shake of the head, and refrained. He watched as his Bonded left the room and wondered if he had ruined everything, and whether he would ever get the chance to make up for it.

Only the Epilogue left...