Disclaimer - JKR is awesome and she owns Harry Potter. I don't.

Now - The calling and binding to a number of wizards!

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Hermione stood in the center of the ritual circle. She looked around to Adrian, Draco, and Theo. She focused on each of them for a moment, making eye contact. They each gave her a nod that they were ready to begin; giving her much needed moral support. No one wanted to proceed without Marcus, but it had already begun and there was no way to stop it. Hermione just had to trust that either Harry would find Marcus soon, or that her magic would find him as the centaurs and Veela thought it might.

Hermione closed her eyes and focused on her magic. She could feel that it was ready. Air, Earth, Water, and Fire were all attuned with her, the power of each element poised to act.

"Evoco Optivus," she said with a clear, firm tone.

Hermione poured everything she had into those two simple words, which literally translated to something like Summon the Chosen. Magic was often deceptively complicated. The words were simple, but to get them to work properly required a great deal more. If that weren't the case, every first year could summon a fully formed Patronus. For the Calling, the elemental magic was essential; without it, they were just meaningless words that did nothing. Those words, channeling the elemental magic, and strong focused control combined to create the Calling.

Hermione could sense and feel the elemental magic ever since she'd woke up from her coma. It was a constant presence. She felt her magic extend and stretch out of her body, each element extending outward like an elastic ribbon.

The fire magic stopped pulling, so Hermione looked in the direction it took. She felt it make contact and saw Draco's eyes go wide.

Hermione couldn't restrain her smile. Her fire magic had quickly reached out and taken hold of Draco Malfoy. She was so happy and so was her magic, she could feel it. Draco began advancing toward the circle. The crowd's silence was broken by a buzz of murmurs and whispers as people reacted. When Draco reached the edge and stepped over the glowing perimeter, he looked partially astounded and partially elated. He approached her and kissed her, hard. Of course, Draco wouldn't be bothered by the massive crowd watching them. Hermione wanted to laugh; she was so joyous and giddy.

"I'm so happy you're here," she told him after they broke the kiss. Hermione clung to him for a moment and didn't care how it looked. Tears of happiness were brimming in her eyes and she saw them in his as well, though he'd never admit that.

"So am I, Granger," he responded, grinning widely. "I knew there was no way you could resist me."

Hermione laughed at his cocky bravado and wiped her eyes.

"What next?" He asked, looking toward Adrian and Theo.

"I felt all four elements reach out. Fire went to you and made contact, but the others are still out there."

Hermione concentrated on the directions her magic took. It seemed fire had moved fastest, but that wasn't too surprising. Fire was quick and impulsive. The other three elements were still moving, just slower.

Air was moving in sweeping arcs, as if it were being blown by the wind, so it was hard to gauge where it would ultimately land. Hermione felt it stop, as the fire had. She looked up and saw Theo staring back at her, his brow furrowed. Hermione felt the Air magic firmly take hold of something and saw Theo look down to his waist. Of course, no one could see it, but it was there and it was forceful. Theo began moving toward the circle, pulled by the air magic, but also excitedly walking himself.

Again, the volume of the crowd increased as they chattered and commented about Theo's movement. Theo practically leapt over the circle boundary and hastened to get to her and Draco. Theo swept her up and kissed her. He was full of emotion, but so was she. She had Theo and Draco with her and no one could take them away from her, ever.

"This is an amazing sensation! I felt the magic take hold of me and I can still feel it. It isn't holding me anymore, but I can feel it swirling around me; like a breeze." Theo said as he pulled away from her, smiling.

"I feel it flickering around me still, like a flame," Draco confirmed, still grinning broadly.

The trio basked in each other's company for a moment before turning to attend to what was occurring outside the circle. Minnie and Lucius were conferring with each other and trying to catch her attention. Hermione frowned and shook her head at them. They weren't ready to do the Binding yet, but she did already have two Ancillaries; that was as many as anyone in history had ever had. The buzzing crowd became hushed again, watching the interaction.

"I can still feel my water and earth magic out there," Hermione explained to Theo and Draco. "Doesn't that mean we're not done?"

"All we need now is Adrian and Marcus," Theo said with determination, nodding his agreement.

All three of them turned toward Adrian, who appeared conflicted. He looked so happy for the three of them, but he carried an air of dejection. More than two Ancillaries were unheard of, but Hermione knew her magic wasn't done. She mouthed the words 'I love you,' to him, knowing he couldn't hear her. Adrian's smile looked a little broken, but he held his hand up to his heart and mouthed the same words back.

Hermione closed her eyes and focused. She held hands with Draco and Theo, squeezing them and searching within herself for more power. She whispered the spell again to encourage the water and earth to find their mates and bring them to her. She could feel them. The earth magic seemed to have picked a direction and was steadily going, stretching further and further away from her.

The water magic seemed to be trickling and flowing over everyone present. Hermione began to worry that her magic was seeking out another person, rather than going to Adrian. She steadied her nerves and tried to have faith that it would make the right choice. When she felt it stop moving and take hold of someone, she held her breath. She kept her eyes closed, not able to bear looking in case it wasn't Adrian.

The crowd was in an uproar. No one had counted on three Ancillaries. Hermione had hardly dared to dream that herself.

"Yes!" she heard Draco say over the noise. Hermione opened her eyes and saw a shocked looking Adrian being pulled into the circle. She almost ran to him, but Draco and Theo were still holding her hands. When Adrian was standing in front of her though, they let go and she threw her arms around the beautiful wizard. His gorgeous smile was brilliant and his cheeks were wet with tears of joy. Adrian squeezed her so hard she almost couldn't breathe, but she didn't care. She'd breathe later. Now she had three of her four wizards, and it made her feel like her chest would burst.

"Took you long enough," Draco teased. Adrian laughed.

"I was starting to worry, kitten," Adrian admitted.

"You said to have faith," she said, smiling at her wizard. Adrian just chuckled and held her tighter.

"Hermione," Minnie called from the perimeter. "What do you want us to do?"

"Should we start the Binding?" Lucius yelled.

Hermione shook her head. She needed Marcus. Her earth magic was still going, still moving away, and she wasn't going to stop it.

"I think my magic is headed toward Marcus," she told the other three. "I can feel it moving. It's been going in the same direction since I cast the spell. I just don't know how far it can reach."

Her wizards nodded their understanding.

"Is there anything we can do, any way we can help?" Adrian asked.

Hermione honestly didn't know.

"Should you be touching the earth more?" Draco asked.

Hermione was already barefoot, but it couldn't hurt to increase the contact. She hiked up her lovely white dress and sat down on the ground, her bare legs touching the earth. She pressed her palms flat as well. The crowd was quiet, just a few murmurs moving through the stands as everyone watched her.

Hermione sat for what felt like an eternity, but was probably more like ten minutes. She was honestly losing hope. The earth magic was still moving, but it was stretching thin. Hermione began to worry that it would snap or return to her empty handed.

"I need Marcus, we need Marcus," she lamented to her wizards, tears beginning to fall again.

"We know, Mi," Theo said, rubbing her shoulders and neck. As Theo touched her skin, she felt the earth magic stretch further.

"Come sit with me, all of you," Hermione demanded. "I think Theo touching me gave me a little extra strength. I need skin to skin contact from each of you."

"I would be a pleasure, Granger," Draco smiled. He quickly covered her right hand with his own and put his left hand on her leg. Adrian mirrored Draco's position, but in the left side. Theo knelt behind her and kept his hands on her shoulders.

Hermione felt the others adding to her magic. The rudimentary bond formed from the Calling must have opened a connection that allowed Hermione to pull from their magic as well as her own. With the extra power, she felt the earth magic surge forward; still going in the same direction.

All of a sudden she felt it make contact and tighten around someone, someone far away. Hermione cried out in joy. It had to be Marcus, it just had to be. He truly was the only missing piece.

The earth magic was supposed to be moving back toward her now, but it wasn't. It was holding tight to whomever it had and it was pulling him, but he wasn't budging. Hermione cried out again, this time in frustration.

"I have him, but he can't move," Hermione grunted, digging her fingernails into the dirt. There was no way she was letting go of Marcus, even if it took everything she had.

"Maybe he's restrained in some way," Theo guessed. The others nodded. It made sense. Hermione knew there was no way that Ron could keep Marcus somewhere he didn't want to be without serious restraints. Marcus was physically and magically strong.

"Should I keep pulling then?" Hermione wondered. "I don't want to hurt him."

"Do you really think Marcus would care that he got hurt if it meant being with you?" Adrian asked.

Hermione knew Adrian was right and told him so. Marcus would be so angry if she held back out of concern for his physical well-being. She could hear him now, telling her that broken bones were nothing and easily mended compared to not being able to be together. So she did what Marcus would've wanted her to do; she pulled on him with everything she had, possible pain and physical damage be damned.

There was a small amount of movement, so Hermione kept a hold on him and kept pulling. She funneled everything she had and everything she could draw from her three wizards into the earth magic that was extended out of her body. It was exhausting, but there was no other option. Hermione was sweating from the exertion. Elemental magic was strong, but this was no easy task. Her earth magic was giving its all and Hermione was trying to replenish it from the actual earth. The other three elements were helping her as well, supporting her and keeping her going as much as possible. Despite the power she had, her muscles were shaking. Nothing short of complete magical depletion was going to stop her, however.

Adrian, Draco, and Theo were beginning to feel the drain as she kept taking from them as well, she could tell. Hermione had to be mindful she didn't permanently damage one of her other wizards.

"I see Mother," Draco panted. Hermione wanted to turn and look, but she couldn't break her connection to the ground. Narcissa had gone with Harry and must be back to report, something. Hopefully, it was something good. "She's smiling and talking to Father. Yes, she's gesturing and nodding at me. I think they found him. They must have found him. I think she's trying to say that they found him, but the others are still en route to get him."

"As long as they hurry," Adrian managed to say. "I don't know how much longer she can hold on to him."

"We have to hold on. If the connection snaps…" Theo gritted out. It sounded as if his teeth were clenched.

Hermione didn't even want to think about the end of Theo's sentence. She was afraid that the thinly stretched earth magic would break the connection if she pulled too harshly. If she eased back on the amount of power she was pouring into the connection, she was afraid the magic would lose its hold on Marcus.

Just when Hermione felt she had nothing left to give, she felt her earth magic coming back to her and coming back very quickly. She panicked, thinking the connection snapped and that was why it was coming so quickly. No one could walk or run as fast as it was moving. She concentrated and tried to feel all the way down the ribbon of magic and felt that there was still someone at the end.

"Marcus is coming," Hermione breathed, exhausted and relieved. She took deep breaths, trying to regain her strength. Since Marcus seemed to be moving on his own, she didn't have to pull him toward her. The power she was taking from the actual earth and air around her was replenishing her, rather than being burned as soon as she got it. She was also able to stop siphoning power away from the others.

"Thank Merlin," Adrian sighed, collapsing down to the ground while still touching her.

After a moment, Hermione was able to stand and began looking in the direction her magic had gone. She could feel him coming closer. The crowd was deathly silent as she watched. Adrian, Draco, and Theo all managed to find their feet as well. They too took up the watch. In her peripheral vision, Hermione could see the spectators go between watching her and following her gaze.

Finally, Hermione saw someone coming. Two small figures were flying rapidly toward the circle. As they approached, she recognized Harry and Marcus flying on brooms. The fact that Marcus was coming made her start crying again, this time with relief. She felt that she'd been so close to losing him.

As they got closer to the large ritual circle, Harry veered off, but Marcus kept coming. It appeared that he had no intention of landing outside the circle. Hermione could see his face now, which was clearly bruised. His left arm was also cradled closely to his body at an awkward angle. That combined with the fact that he wasn't using his left hand to grip the broom, convinced Hermione that he was injured in some way. His face was the very picture of determination. When they made eye contact, his relief was obvious and mirrored her own.

Marcus was coming straight at her and easily crossed into the ritual circle. He jumped down off the broom while it was still two meters from the ground. As Marcus hit the ground running, the broom kept going. Hermione barely noticed that it crashed and splintered. She was entirely focused on her wayward wizard. She rushed to him and they practically collided with each other as they embraced.

"No!" Hermione heard a shriek coming from the reserved seating near the circle. She turned her head to see Bronwyn angrily advancing toward her, running to her. "Marcus Flint is mine!"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the witch. Bronwyn had done this. She had enlisted Ron and, together, they had taken Marcus from her. Clearly, they intended on keeping him away from the ritual until it was too late. Rage rose within her, but her fatigue kept her from losing control. Bronwyn was still running at her and she looked as angry as Hermione felt. The demented witch was pulling out her wand as she came to the perimeter, refusing to slow down in response to the shouts coming from behind her. The shock of Bronwyn's rapid movement had worn off and people were trying to catch her. Charlie and George were closest to her when Bronwyn went to leap over the rocks that made up the circle. She slammed hard into the invisible barrier that was created when the ritual began.

If Bronwyn had been paying attention, she would've remembered that no one could besides the Sorceress and her Chosen could cross the boundary into the circle until the ritual was complete. As the witch hit the wall, the blue-green light that had shined so brightly when Hermione entered the circle, flared up around Bronwyn and enveloped her. She hung in the air for a moment before she was repelled away from the barrier that she was never supposed to touch. The American witch was thrown back and fell into a burning, crumpled heap.

"Good," Marcus hissed, watching Bronwyn. He then must have noticed Ron, still lying in a heap on the ground not far from where Bronwyn fell, because he growled low in his throat. "Weasley."

Marcus started toward the unconscious Ron, but Hermione held him to her. He turned his face to hers and his eyes softened.

"Don't leave me," she murmured.

"Never," Marcus promised, tightening his grip on her. He kissed her roughly, as if he were starving for her.

"I was so worried," Hermione admitted after they broke the kiss.

"Me too. I felt something grab me and pull me. That was you, wasn't it?"

"I had help," Hermione replied, smiling and gesturing to the other three wizards.

Marcus kept one arm around Hermione and motioned for the other three to come to them as well. In mere seconds, Hermione was surrounded by her four wizards; the five of them holding onto each other tightly.

"So you got us all?" Marcus asked, his tone teasing.

"I'm a greedy witch," Hermione responded. She couldn't stop smiling. It was all too much, too perfect. She wiped the tears from her face. There had been so much crying; tears of fear, grief, relief, and joy.

"And too stubborn to let any of us go," Adrian added.

"Thank Merlin for that," Marcus sighed.

"Should we finish this?" Draco asked. "I want to get our witch away from here. Nothing I have planned is suitable for an audience."

"Since when did that stop you?" Theo teased.

Hermione laughed, joy bursting from her. She didn't care if Bronwyn had managed to kill herself or if Ron ever woke up. She had her wizards, all of them. It was everything she'd been hoping for.

"Draco's right, about finishing this," Hermione clarified. She turned toward Minnie and Lucius, who were both beaming as well. She led her four wizards over to the edge of the circle and nodded to the ritual leaders. "Now we're ready for the Binding."

"I'll say you are," Minnie replied, grinning. Lucius was clearly trying to maintain his haughty, aloof demeanor, but even he couldn't manage it.

They arranged themselves into a semi-circle across from Minnie and Lucius. Hermione was in the middle, Adrian and Marcus fanned out to her left, while Draco and Theo were on her right.

"Sorceress, your magic has called and chosen these wizards to serve as your Ancillaries," Lucius said, his voice resonating loudly so that everyone could hear him. "Do you accept your Chosen?"

"I do," Hermione replied, smiling at her wizards.

"Will you trust them, depend on them, and share yourself with them?" Lucius continued.

"I will."

"Chosen, you have been called by magic to serve your Sorceress," Minnie said, her voice now loud as well. "Do you accept this Calling?"

"I do," they all replied in unison.

"Will you protect her, support her, and share yourselves with her?" Minnie continued.

"I will."

Minnie and Lucius raised their wands.

"Coniunctio," they said together.

Hermione felt the elemental magic that had reached out to each wizard attach to them and then dissolve. The magic had felt like elastic ribbon before, stretching out, but now it felt less tangible and less breakable. If she focused on it, Hermione could feel the bond. It was like a thin line of pure energy connecting her to each of them. It was indestructible and unbreakable, no matter the distance, she was sure. All of a sudden, the bonds were visible, glowed the blue-green color of the ritual circle perimeter, and then faded to nothing. The bond was set, it was forever. Hermione couldn't be happier.

A cheer rose up all around them as people in the stands went wild. Her four wizards surrounded her once again, hugging and kissing her. After they collected themselves, they stepped out of the circle. Minnie squeezed Hermione in a firm hug.

"Congratulations," the Headmistress said softly. "I know you'll all be happy and you deserve it, more than anyone I know."

Hermione thanked her, touched by her mentor's words. She saw Lucius giving Draco a big hug, not caring that the show of affection didn't allow him to maintain his aloof Malfoy hauteur.

The ritual planning group they'd formed over the past three weeks descended upon them. Harry enveloped her, lifting her up and swinging her around. Hermione cackled with laughter, happy to share this with her oldest friend. She clung to Harry for a moment as she watched her wizards with their family and friends.

Narcissa was fussing over Draco, tears in her eyes while Lucius looked as proud as one of those white peacocks he had strutting around Malfoy Manor. Ted wasn't a demonstrative wizard, but he had a firm grip on Theo's shoulder while they talked to Luna and Selma. Arabella was much more comfortable with shows of affection. She was hugging and kissing Adrian, who was rolling his eyes but was clearly pleased with the attention. Sasha and Kobayashi were congratulating him. Hermione giggled as the stoic Marcus was surrounded by his very vocal and expressive parents. Hermione also saw flashbulbs going off as photos were taken.

"Thank you for finding Marcus," Hermione told Harry.

"My pleasure, but I didn't do it alone. Kobayashi's locating spell helped a great deal. Marcus was all the way on the other side of Hogsmeade in an old building that George had thought about buying for overflow storage. When we got there, he was tied to a chair, but he and the chair were banging against the door. I imagine that, eventually, he would've broken through."

Hermione nodded, but she wasn't so sure. She had been running out of power, trying to pull Marcus to her. If Harry hadn't found him when he did, well Hermione didn't want to think about that. Instead, she was going to watch her wizards and allow her happiness to surround her. She did notice that one of Pius' enthusiastic hugs made Marcus wince.

Hermione waved over Pansy.

"Marcus is hurt, can you check him out?" Hermione asked after accepting her new friend's congratulations.

Hermione accompanied Pansy over to her largest wizard, who tried to brush off Pansy, as Hermione anticipated.

"Marcus, I need you healthy tonight," Hermione told him, holding his gaze for a moment. She tried to convey her meaning with her eyes, not wanting to say it aloud in front of friends and family.

Marcus seemed to immediately understand and let Pansy run her diagnostic spells. Healer Adams also came over with his case of potions. A small crowd formed around Marcus, which he clearly didn't care for.

Hermione turned to the Weasleys while the Healers worked. They were hanging back, looking uncomfortable. Hermione went up to Molly and gave her a hug.

"Thank you all for your help," Hermione told them. She looked over to Ron, still passed out. Someone had covered Bronwyn with a blanket, so Hermione assumed that she didn't make it. She honestly couldn't bring herself to care that the witch was gone.

"What should we do with Ron?" George sighed. "Renervate him?"

They all looked at the unconscious Weasley for a moment, thinking. Marcus pushed past Ron's brothers and kicked Ron in the side. Hermione heard a crack, most likely Ron's ribs.

"Hey, hey," Charlie shouted. He, George, and Bill pulled Marcus away from their brother.

"He deserves it after what he did," Marcus hissed.

"You have to wait until he wakes up," George admonished. "Otherwise, it's not a fair fight."

"And when he wakes up, we'll join you in kicking his stupid arse," Charlie added, gripping Marcus, but glaring at Ron.

"I think you all should leave this to the proper authorities," Harry cut in, standing between Marcus and Ron. An on-duty Auror wearing uniformed robes approached them. Harry introduced him as the senior Auror in charge.

"I'll need you to come down to Headquarters to make a statement, Mr. Flint, so we can take Mr. Weasley into custody," the Auror commanded.

"I'm not going anywhere, except home," Marcus countered simply. "I've just bonded to my witch and I'm going home with her and my friends. If you want a statement, you can have it right now."

The Auror looked at a loss of what to do and kept sneaking looks at Hermione. He seemed a little frightened of her actually. She guessed that the display of her power earlier may have scared some of the audience.

"I had dinner last night at Harry and Pansy Potter's house," Marcus went on. "Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini were there as well. I left after eleven o'clock and went out the front door. I prefer Apparating to Floo travel. I saw Bronwyn Figgelowe outside and asked her what she was doing there. While she distracted me, Ron Weasley came up behind me and cast an immobilization spell. Figgelowe cast an Incarcerous charm and the two of them took me to some old, abandoned house. Figgelowe wanted to give me Amortentia, but Weasley didn't bring all the ingredients. They kept me tied up and immobilized throughout the night, refreshing their spells often because they didn't last long. Weasley left in the morning, but came back with the love potion ingredients before noon. Figgelowe stayed with me right up until the time the ritual was to begin. Her plan was to give me the love potion when she returned and convince me to tell everyone that I'd changed my mind about Hermione. After Figgelowe left, I was alone for a while. The spells started wearing off a little eventually, but not enough to fully move. I felt some invisible force take hold of me. It pulled me to the door of the old house, where I banged against the closed door over and over again. I was still tied to the chair. The chair was splintering apart, but so was the door. My left shoulder was dislocated and my upper arm bone broke from hitting the door so hard. Harry, my parents, and a few others opened the door and the force that was pulling me dragged me out of the house. My father held me still long enough to untie me from the chair and then he popped my shoulder back into the socket. Harry handed me a broom and I took off. The force pulled me here and into the circle. You all saw the rest."

Silence fell on the immediate crowd as they processed what Marcus had said. Hermione never would've believed that Marcus had left her for Bronwyn Figgelowe, none of them would have. Nevertheless, the witch was able to carry out most of her plan. That fact alone made a chill run along Hermione's spine.

"I'll take Mr. Weasley in on charges of kidnapping," the Auror reported, but his voice rose up at the end as if he were asking a question. He was watching Hermione for her reaction, but she was refusing to respond. Ron had chosen his path and Hermione wasn't going to help him, even if they had been friends long ago. On the other hand, she wasn't going to condemn him either; she would let his own actions do that.

"Wait to Renervate him until you have him in a holding cell," Severus instructed. "That way we don't have to listen to him."

Hermione nodded at that. She certainly didn't want to hear anymore from her former friend. The Auror took her nod as general confirmation of his plans and was quickly gone, taking Ron with him.

Severus pulled her close and Hermione burrowed into his signature black robes. His actions would do nothing for his reputation as the scariest living person in Wizarding Britain, but then, Hermione didn't care much anymore. Her gale force winds and earthquakes may have made her the new scariest living person.

"So you got what you wanted, you greedy witch," Severus scolded, squeezing her tight. His voice was soft and soothing. His words reminded her that she did get everything she wanted, and no one could take her wizards away from her. The chill that Marcus' story gave her was banished.

"I did," Hermione confirmed.

The audience was starting to move and get louder, as people left their seats. Hermione's group closed in even closer.

"I'm happy for you all, I really am," Blaise told her, shouldering past Bouchard and Sasha. "You effectively scared off all the other wizards I'd worked so hard to invite. Your magic is downright frightening. My point in coming over was to ask why you are all still here?"

"Yeah, don't you have a newly formed harem to break in?" Pansy grinned.

"This crowd isn't going to hold back for long," Harry observed. "Some brave souls are still going to want to get close to the Sorceress, even if you could burn them to a crisp."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but they did have a point. She let go of Severus and levitated several feet, so she was above her friends.

"Thank you all for coming today. I appreciate everything, truly. Avian, thank you for intervening and I hope you stay in touch." The Veela nodded and gave her a small bow. "Ronan and Bane, your advice about earth magic meant a great deal to me. If the centaurs need anything from me, you need only ask."

The centaurs nodded and Hermione hoped they would take her up on her offer. She looked around and found her wizards nearby. They each beamed at her and Hermione gave a slight tug on her bonds to them. Adrian's eyes went wide with surprise and Draco laughed aloud. Marcus smiled and shook his head at her, while Theo gave her a smoldering look of disapproval.

"If my Ancillaries are ready," Hermione continued, "I'd like to go home now."

Next - Smut! A chapter of entirely smut really. And then after a chapter of smut, the epilogue!