"Now, I'm going to ask you something...and I need you to keep an open mind ok ?"
She nodded as Minerva sat beside her on the bed , and took her hand.
"What do you know about Magical Affinities ?"
A confused look met her eyes , and she vaguely shook her head to convey her lack of knowlege.
"Growing up muggle you may have heard it referred to in another way, a Soul bond or... Soul Mates perhaps ?"
Hermione's eyes suddenly widened in comprehension , and she looked like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights , her breathing became rushed and she grabbed Minerva's hand for reassurance.
She did not look away though.
"There are stories , rumours really as there hasn't been a known affinity in centuries... the rumours are that some people are destined to be together.. their magic draws them to each other because they are two parts of the same whole , neither is truly complete without the other."
Hermione was shaking , but was focused in rapt attention on the witch as she spoke.
"It's said that these mates often have a lot in common , but likewise are very different .One light and one dark. As the muggles have referred to as yin and yang , or opposites attract... together they are whole"
She paused to make sure Hermione was still with her , and after a moment the girl nodded for her to continue.
"Many muggles are descended from magical people , or squibs. Magic still runs in their veins even if it's dormant. The potential was there, it just never took. Which of course explains muggleborns, all have magical ancestors if you look back far enough"
The girl was rapt with attention and had yet to let go of her hand.
"Muggles , not understanding the concept of latent magic, could not understand a magic affinity. When the dormant magic in their blood , calls to that of another, they explained it as something else , the heart or the soul , hence soulmates"
"Magic is a very personal thing , different for every person... it explains why some excel and others do not , some are skilled in charms while others struggle with the most basic. It's also why wands choose the witch or wizard, and no wand would answer to, or work for anyone as well as it's owner, because the magic behind it is different."
Hermione's eyes were wide as she took everything in.
"They say that affinities are often discovered the first time one half casts near or upon the other... I know you have always been respectful of Severus , but never this close...Can you remember the first time you felt this way?"
She was shaking her head in the negative, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment she gasped and covered her mouth , and when tears ran down her face she nodded.
"You remember ? "
A Nod.
"When ?"
She grabbed a piece of parchment and with a shaky hand , wrote one word upon it.
"Oath"
"Oath ? Severus's oath to Dumbledore ?"
She shook her head no.
"Then what oath do you...wait... wait Severus said something about an oath...that first day you returned ?"
She nodded clasping Minerva's hands in hers.
"Yes... I remember, Severus made you an oath that he wouldn't hurt you"
Wiping the tears from her eyes , she nodded once more.
"And...what this the first time he'd ever directly cast magic on you, or likewise you on him"
A desperate nod .
"Merlin's beard...I had my suspicions but... this changes everything, if you truly share a bond, Albus cannot keep you apart"
Hermione was worrying at her wrists, something minerva couldn't see...she arched an eyebrow but didn't say anything to it.
"There are a couple of ways we can know for sure , but only one that's available to us right now. We need to see Severus , I think it's time we got you to the hospital wing"
Hermione and Minerva were already sat in Poppy's warded office in the Hospital wing when Severus and Poppy arrived , after a quick floo call with the headmaster.
As his gaze ran over the girl , the beast inside his chest growled.
It had been hours and already she looked terrible. Trembling and tearstained with fresh scratches on her wrists where the cuffs were.
He could tell that she was not comfortable being in the hospital wing. His mind touched hers with legillimency by way of greeting and she gratefully accepted the contact, enveloping him within her mind like a mental hug.
A quick glance at her recent thoughts and memories, which she laid open to him , showed him she was terrified when entering the wing but had pushed through out of her desperation to see him once more.
She'd nearly had a major panic attack despite her determination , but Minerva's idea of getting her into the office and away from all the beds had gone a long way to helping diffuse the situation.
"We have some good news" Poppy announced to the room.
"We spoke to the headmaster , we managed to persuade him that it would be in everyone's best interests if we could take the cuffs off during the designated hours when Hermione was in the hospital wing... try and prevent any accidents , and so she can work properly on her 'Apprenticeship' "
Poppy went and stood next to Minerva as she spoke to the girl directly. " I know it's not perfect , but it's better than nothing and hopefully only temporary until we sort this mess out."
The girl nodded gratefully at the mediwitch and then looked hopefully to him.
He wanted to go to her , to physically hold her and soothe her. He was held back though by the presence of Minerva and Poppy.
"Go to her laddie , I dare say you both need it"
Approval given, he could not hold back any longer. He reached her in three large strides and pulled her into his embrace , where she sobbed in relief and held onto him like she was drowning.
Minerva was whispering something softly to Poppy and when the witch gasped , he raised his head to look at the witches who were both studying him.
"I think it's time we talked about the erumpet in the room , don't you laddie?"
"Soul mates? You're off your rocker woman"
She wasn't . His heart sang. You knew , you felt it then and you feel it now , there's no point denying it.
"The two of you share an affinity Severus I'm sure of it , especially after the discussion I had with Hermione"
He turned to the girl beside him with a raised eyebrow, She was rubbing her wrists where the cuffs had been and she sheepishly pushed the thoughts of the conversation with Minerva to the forefront of her mind.
See... she's yours , yours to protect and yours to keep.
"It's not possible"
"There's one way we can find out , get out your wand"
"Really Minerva , in Public ?"
The girl shook with silent laughter at his side, and Poppy snorted.
"Och give over boy"
Reluctantly he pulled out his wand from the holster on his arm , and gingerly held it out to Minerva.
"Not to me boy , to her"
The girl froze at the side of him , and his eyebrows were in his hairline.
"Minerva, why..."
"You know why boy, that wand of yours has almost as bad a reputation as you for being bad tempered! Not only will it point blank refuse to work for anyone else , remember when your last holster broke and you dropped it in class? That poor boy that picked it up to pass you it got such a bad zap he couldn't write for a week , we had to get him a dictaquill for lessons!"
"Huh, I remember that " Said Poppy "Nothing I did would undo it , had to just wait it out"
"Precisely , and you wish me to hand it to He... Miss Granger ?"
"It's obvious you care for the girl..."
"I.."
"Don't interrupt"
He snapped his jaw shut and looked sulkily at her , to which Hermione held back a chuckle.
"Like I was saying , it's obvious you care for Miss Granger , whether I am right about this affinity or not , so I doubt for a second your wand would cause her any serious harm regardless"
He clenched his jaw and looked away.
"What are you waiting for boy?"
Hermione seemed to take a deep breath as he slowly turned to her.
After considering the piece of ebony wood in his hand... he slowly extended it out to her.
Shakily she reached out her hand and grasped it and Severus's heart plummeted at what happened next
AN / Another cruel cliffhanger ! Sorry Guys.
Please review , I love your feedback and suggestions .
I feel like the interest in this fic is dropping out a bit though and I hope I haven't lost too many of you along the way , please review and let me know you're still here.
Also I'm going away with work for a few days so this story won't be updated again until the weekend.