A/N: As you can probably guess, this is a soul bond fic. I have had this idea for quite some time now and had been struggling over where to begin this story. I read another soul bond fic which actually helped me figure out a starting point for this story. This chapter will give you a good overview of the bond, but please note that mind speak is not part of the bond and I have no plans for it to be.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own, nor have I ever owned Harry Potter.
"Harry?"
Harry struggled to open his eyes in response to the voice calling his name. While the physical pain from being possessed by Voldemort had now eased considerably, the emotional pain of losing his godfather still remained.
"Are you alright, Harry?" the voice asked.
He wanted to scream out that he wasn't, but he didn't have the energy. Instead, he forced open his eyes and reached out to find his glasses. He was grateful to find they were within arm's reach as he grabbed them and put them on, only to find Professor Dumbledore's nose not far from his own.
"I honestly don't know, sir," Harry replied.
Dumbledore stood up, turned and motioned someone over as Harry realised that the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic was now full of people. More wizards and witches seemed to be appearing from the fireplaces, obviously having been called to come and deal with the commotion he and his friends had caused down in the Department of Mysteries.
"Harry!" a frantic voice cried.
He barely had time to brace himself as a small body fell to the floor and into his arms, holding onto him tightly. The smell of wildflowers he inhaled a second later helped to him realise that his girlfriend was the person in his arms, something he was grateful for.
"He hurt you," Ginny said as she pulled back enough to see his face without leaving Harry's arms. "I watched as he appeared to possess you and it hurt you when he did so."
Harry wanted to tell his girlfriend just how much it had hurt, how it had been worst pain imaginable, even worse than when Voldemort used the Cruciatus Curse on him in the graveyard. Yet, the words just wouldn't come.
"Don't say anything, Harry," Ginny continued as she placed one finger over his lips. "I know you will tell me when you are ready."
Harry pulled her even closer as he whispered brokenly, "Sirius is dead."
"I know. Bellatrix wasn't exactly quiet about it as she ran past where I was hidden. Tonks found me a couple of minutes later and tried to get me to take a Portkey back to Hogwarts, but I made her fix my ankle as best as she could instead."
Harry pulled back enough to see Ginny's brown eyes, confused as to why she wouldn't take the offer to escape back to the safety of the castle. He hadn't been able to save Sirius, but he was not going to let anything happened to Ginny, even if it meant asking her to stay behind and stay away from the fight. Not that she would accept or agree to that. "Why?"
"Because I knew you needed me, Harry," she told him honestly. "I can always feel when you need me, you know that."
"I love you," Harry automatically replied. He hadn't meant to say those three words, but he knew meant them. He had known for several months that he had fallen in love with her, but he had never found the courage, until now, to say them.
"I love you, too, Harry," Ginny replied immediately before leaning in to kiss Harry.
As their lips met, a pure, white light appeared, seemingly from their hearts, and began to surround the two teens as it brightened. Dumbledore, quick to understand what was happening, cast a number of charms around the young couple to ensure their privacy. However, just seconds after he had done so, he witnessed the light abruptly disappearing and the couple thrown apart, much to their confusion and disappointment.
"Why were we thrown apart?" Ginny quietly asked, unaware of the privacy the headmaster had awarded them. "Our bond was beginning to complete itself. I felt it, I felt you and your magic beginning to surround me."
"It didn't complete itself, though, did it?" Harry replied in confusion, having felt Ginny and her magic as well. "Something seems to have stopped it from doing so."
Ginny quickly crawled back over to her boyfriend, confused by just what happened and desperate for comfort. Harry wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly against his chest as his mind furiously tried to figure out why their bond had refused to complete. They had both said the necessary words, 'I love you', before proceeding to seal it with a kiss, just like the book had said. He doubted either one of them had attempted to force the completion by deceiving the other as he had felt Ginny and her magic in a way he had never felt before. The only conclusion was that an outside source, one seemingly beyond their control, had stopped it just moments before their bond was sealed forever.
"Harry?"
Both Harry and Ginny looked up to see the headmaster standing in front of them, a look of concern on his face.
"The Minister is aware that you are here in the Ministry," he told them as he held out the golden wizard head from the destroy fountain towards them. "I doubt either of you wishes to speak to him, so I have made you a Portkey that will take you directly back to Hogwarts. I shall join you as quickly as I can, once I have spoken to the Minister and checked on something about your bond that may help us understand what happened."
Harry nodded mutely, a hundred or so emotions rushing through him all at the same time. He reached out for the Portkey, taking it into his lap as Ginny placed her hands on it to make sure she wasn't left behind. Seconds later, both felt themselves pulled from the floor of the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic.
HP&GW
Harry was unaware of how much time had passed since he and Ginny had arrived in Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts, following the events in the Department of Mysteries. The moment they had landed heavily on the floor of the office, Ginny had been quick to pull him to his feet and lead him over to a chair, where they had curled up together. He had become numb to everything around him and to everything he had been feeling, bar the soothing motion of Ginny's hand running through his hair. It wasn't until he heard the door to the office open and close that Harry made any effort to pay attention to his surroundings.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting," the headmaster said as he entered the room. "I felt it was best to make sure the Minister was informed of the events that have happened this evening as I do not wish for him to interrogate you."
"Thank you, Professor," Ginny replied on Harry's behalf, knowing his feelings about Dumbledore and his actions this past year were mixed up.
"I have spoken to Madam Pomfrey and you will be pleased to know none of your friends will suffer any long-suffering effects from tonight's events," Dumbledore continued. "She is patching everyone up as we speak."
Ginny felt Harry tense up, knowing Dumbledore's words had hit a nerve with him. She could feel his misplaced guilt through their bond. While she could probably fully admit that they had been wrong to go running off to the Ministry without actual confirmation that Sirius was no longer at Grimmauld Place, she knew now was not the time to say so as that would only add to the guilt Harry was already feeling.
"I feel I must begin with what I need to speak to you about by apologising. I firmly believe that a good portion of the blame lays with me when it comes to death of your godfather. I have made mistakes when it has come to both of you, which I wish I could change, but, alas, I cannot."
Both Harry and Ginny stared at the headmaster in shock. Neither had expected for him to admit to making mistakes or for taking partial responsibility for the events of that evening.
"I should never have kept Sirius confined to Grimmauld Place. I knew full well that he was unhappy about staying in his childhood home. It is no surprise that when he discovered you were in danger that he ignored all advice and warnings to remain in the house, all so he could help rescue you. I should have foreseen that, knowing how much he loved you."
A noise from behind the headmaster caused Dumbledore and the young couple to look over to the portrait of former headmaster, Phineas Nigellus Black, just as he was exiting the frame. It was obvious to them all he was returning to Grimmauld Place, now the last of the Black line had died.
"I should have also been honest with you, Harry, from the beginning," Dumbledore continued before either Harry or Ginny could take the opportunity to speak. "I should have made it known to you about how Voldemort may take advantage of your connection to him. Had I done so, perhaps you would have not been swayed so easily by the images he planted in your mind, allowing you to be lured to the Department of Mysteries. While I am happy that you stopped Voldemort from gaining access to the Prophecy, had I been open with you sooner, then Sirius would not have needed to be there and would not have died."
Harry's eyes met those of the headmaster as Dumbledore earnestly told him, "For that, I must take the blame and the responsibility. All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies and hope that you will allow me to finally tell you everything I have held back from you all these years."
Harry did not, and could not, immediately respond to the headmaster's apology. He felt like a fair amount had been left out of the explanation of how he and his friends had come to end up rushing to the Department of Mysteries. Yet, there was so much more he knew they needed to discuss, like why Voldemort wanted to get his hands on a prophecy that Harry's name happened to be on. However, more importantly, he wanted to know what had happened that had stopped his bond with Ginny from finally completing itself. All of these thoughts simply left him confused and angry.
"I think you have left out a fair amount of information of how the events of this culminated in us ending up in the Department of Mysteries, sir," Ginny calmly said, having picked up on Harry's confusion through the bond. "However, like you said, there is much for us to discuss that is far more essential than every mistake and choice made that led Harry losing his godfather."
"You would be correct, Miss Weasley. I believe we can discuss that in full another time."
"Agreed."
"The reason for Voldemort luring you, Harry, to the Department of Mysteries, as you know, was for him to gain knowledge of a prophecy, one which pertains to yourself and him," Dumbledore began. "I was the person to whom the prophecy was given, sixteen years ago, as I was interviewing a prospective Divination teacher. I must admit I had not been expecting it as the candidate for the position had not shown any talent for the subject and I had only interviewed her due to her relation to a famous and gifted seer. I knew immediately that the prophecy foretold the potential downfall of Voldemort, but, at the time, I could not interpret it further than that."
The headmaster stood and made his way to a black cabinet that Harry knew Dumbledore stored his Pensieve in. Harry and Ginny could only watch as the headmaster placed his wand to his temple and carefully drew a silvery strand from his mind before depositing it in the basin.
"I apologise, again, for keeping this from you, Harry," Dumbledore said with a deep regret, "but I, like many other people in your life, only wanted you to have some semblance of childhood that would have been denied to you had you heard this sooner."
With a prod of his wand, a ghostly image of Sybill Trelawney rose above the Pensive and spoke,
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies …"
Ginny gripped Harry's hand in support, even though she felt terrified that the boy she loved was destined to be the one who would finally defeat Voldemort once and for all. She reached out across their bond to try and figure out what Harry was feeling, but was shocked to feel absolutely nothing from him, something that had never happened before. She was accustomed to being able to feel every emotion from him, something they both revelled in being able to do. She could only hope, in that moment, that he was shocked far beyond feeling anything, because the idea of him closing himself off to her was not something she wanted to experience. It was with great relief and sadness that she felt Harry rip his hand from her and anger and despair overwhelmingly flooded their bond.
"Are you telling me," Harry said in a low, angry voice as he slammed his hands down upon the headmaster's desk, "that my little trip to the Ministry this evening was all for nothing? That I could have prevented Voldemort from discovering the prophecy by simply not turning up like he wanted me to, instead of having to fight Death Eaters, causing the sphere to be smashed? That my godfather, the closest thing I have ever had to having a father, died for nothing? That we could have avoided ALL OF THIS if you had just simply told me from the start?"
Harry did not even wait for Dumbledore to respond before he grabbed the nearest item to him and threw it at the wall. He didn't even pay attention to what he picked up as he continued to throw whatever he could get his hands on all so he could let out his frustrations, his anger and his grief without directing it at anyone in particular.
"The ONLY good thing that has come from this evening," Harry said as he began to ease up on causing destruction in the office, "was that I finally found the courage to tell Ginny just how deep my feelings are for her, and even that somehow managed to go wrong when our bond failed to complete itself. Why does everything in life go wrong? Why do I continue to lose people I love? WILL I EVER JUST BE ALLOWED TO LIVE MY LIFE?"
His heartbroken roar finally broke Harry out of his anger as he collapsed onto his knees in gut-wrenching tears. He just wanted to be free of everything that seemed to stop him from being truly happy. He felt two small arms wrap around his shoulders, reminding him that Ginny was the brightest spot in his life and gave him something to live for, the reminder he needed that there were still good things in this world.
"Let's sit on the chair again, Harry," Ginny murmured in his ear, something Harry could not ignore. The couple retook their seats with Harry's face remaining hidden as he took a chance to regain some control of how he was feeling, leaving Ginny to continue the conversation. "I think, perhaps, we can come back to the discussion of the prophecy, its meaning and how it pertains to Harry once he has had a chance to let it sink in. Instead, I would like you to give us whatever theory you have about why our bond failed to complete itself."
"Before I returned here and after I had spoken to the Minister," Dumbledore began as he removed a rolled-up piece of parchment from his pocket, "I took a minor detour to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, where the Administrative Registration Department is placed. This department deals with the registration of important moments in any witch or wizard's life, such as births, marriages and deaths. Magic allows these moments, for the most part, to update automatically."
The young couple nodded with Harry now paying attention to what the headmaster had to say.
"One book that resides in the department, but is rarely checked, is the Book of Soul Bonds," Dumbledore continued as he handed over the parchment he had been holding. "When the book is checked, it is because a couple has completed their bond and needs to file confirmation of their betrothal, which, as you know, is automatically granted to those with a completed Soul Bond. The parchment I have handed you is copy of your bonding so far."
Ginny carefully unrolled the parchment and held it so Harry could also read it alongside her.
Soul Bonding of Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Weasley
Stage 1 – Acknowledgement – Eleventh of August 1981
Stage 2 – Recognition – First of September 1991
Stage 3 – Connection – Twenty-Ninth of May 1993
Stage 4 – Acceptance – Twenty-Fourth of June 1995
Stage 5 – Completion – Attempted on Eighteenth of June 1996
Harry and Ginny exchange a look of confusion.
"It has noted that the Completion stage was attempted." Harry stated. "Why would it record a stage that failed?"
"I believe, but this is just a theory as this has never happened before, that your bonding was strong enough to be acknowledged by the book," Dumbledore explained. "I believe the bonding was forced to stop just seconds before it would have been officially complete."
"But why were we forced apart? What stopped us from completing our bond?" Ginny asked, desperate to understand what had happened.
"To understand why and what I believe is the reason, I would like to go through each stage of the bond as I believe there is a recurring idea that would explain what happened."
The couple nodded their consent. While they had discussed the bond, the stages and what it meant for them as a couple, they were happy to do so again if it helped to provide them with answers.
"As you know, the first two stages of the bond are experienced by the vast majority of the wizarding world," the headmaster began. "Those whose other half are Muggles will not have their potential Soul Bond recorded in the book. For the ones that are recorded, while many will reach stage two as a result of attending the same school, it is extremely rare to reach stage three as you did. Therefore, the majority will never be aware they had a potential soul bond."
Harry and Ginny nodded their understanding as they remembered their conversation with Bill. He had been the one to help them discover that they had a bond. They had also spoken with Professor Dumbledore, who they had chosen to inform when they realised that Ginny would be the person who Harry sorely missed and therefore used for the second task of the Triwizard Tournament. Both wizards had noted that the book was not checked as a way to encourage these bonds to develop naturally, due to free will being an important part of it. If forced, the bond would not continue to grow and mature. Even after the couple had discovered their own bond, they had talked through what it had meant for them as friends and chose to let things to develop naturally between them.
"Stage one of the bond is the acknowledgement of the other half of your soul," Dumbledore continued on. "The only reason we know this exists is because of the written records. Due to the fact that it will always occur on the day of birth of younger half of the couple, we have been able to determine that it is the two halves acknowledging their other half exists in the world. While I cannot confirm this, I also believe this stage brings a sense of comfort to each child, their souls knowing the person who will bring them complete fulfilment is out there, waiting for them."
"I like that theory," Ginny said as she smiled at Harry.
"Stage two is the recognition of your other half. It is the moment the two halves meet for the first time, which, in your case, was the day Harry made his journey on the Hogwarts Express to begin his schooling here at Hogwarts."
Harry remembered that day clearly as he knew Ginny did. The moment he had first laid eyes on his girlfriend, she had taken his breath away. He had not understood the feeling at the time, nor had she. Their ages had not mattered in that moment, though, as both knew it was a feeling of goodness and positivity. The moment had been fleeting, but powerful enough for them to think about it from time to time, neither mentioning it to the other until they learnt of their bond.
"This stage is much better documented as most couples are of a similar age as the pair of you were when they first meet," Dumbledore told them, pulling Harry from his thoughts. "Recognition can only happen if both halves make eye contact long enough for them to recognise that the other did so. It is in this moment the souls recognise the other. Many people who reach this stage will never see the other half of their soul again as they are just two strangers passing by in that moment. I believe you used the word 'fleeting', Harry, when you first told me about the bond."
"Fleeting, yet memorable."
"That does seem fitting, doesn't it?" Dumbledore replied with a chuckle.
"Why don't those people go looking for their other half?" Ginny asked, a curious look on her face. "I know neither Harry nor I went looking for the other, but we knew we would see each other again."
"As you know, free will is essential to the bond," Dumbledore explained. "Yes, the stages will complete themselves automatically, but only if the right circumstances are met. Even the first stage has some free will to it – the choice to willingly carry the child to birth by the mother. The bond will never compel anyone to do something they do not want. It is only once the bond is completed that the choice to walk away from the other half of your soul becomes no longer possible, but, by that point, neither person will want to do so."
Harry and Ginny glanced at one another, exchanging a look of love, both knowing that neither of them could ever walk away from what they had and shared together.
"Moving on to stage three of the bond," Dumbledore said, drawing the young couple's attention back to him. "This is about developing a connection, one of a personal nature that can never be shared with anyone but their other half. It is hard to know what would sufficiently suffice for this stage to be completed as many of those with bonds have never spoken out about what connected them. However, in your case, we are able to guess that the events of the Chamber of Secrets were what brought you together. You may have informed those who needed to be told about the events, but none of us were down there in the chamber with the pair of you and, therefore, can never share that understanding with you."
"Therefore, had Ron entered into the chamber alongside me, instead of being trapped due to the cave in…" Harry hedged.
"Then, the connection between you and Miss Weasley would never have formed as it did."
Dumbledore had been right to say no one would ever be able to understand what happened in the chamber that evening. Harry and Ginny had shared their individual stories of the events, but neither had revealed what had happened after Tom Riddle had been destroyed and before they had re-joined Ron in the tunnels. At the time, it hadn't been because of how personal that moment had felt to them, but more because it had not seemed relevant to the story. Then again, how do you tell anyone that the loss of the other person would have been beyond devastating, especially when the two people in question had yet to form a friendship?
"I will not ask you to reveal what happened down in the Chamber," Dumbledore continued on. "I do ask, though, that you remember what it was that you both felt in those moments when it was just the two of you. I believe it will be similar to what you felt in the moments that you shared your first kiss and you confessed your love for one another."
The young couple blushed at the Headmaster's words, neither thinking that this was a conversation they would have ever willingly chosen to have with the much older wizard.
"Don't tell answer me just yet, Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry opened his mouth to respond. "I believe we should continue on with understanding each stage of the bond before we discuss the common theme I believe we shall discover."
Harry nodded in acceptance, even though he felt he knew the answer already.
"Between stages three and four, you formed and solidified your friendship as well as discovered the bond between you. Even if there had been no bond, the friendship would have developed as events, like the one you experienced in the Chamber, tend to bring people together. Yet, in your case, because of the bond, it created a pull towards each other. It was your choice to act on the pull you felt and as a result, the friendship between you blossomed."
The couple knew the pull towards one another had been there from the moment they left the Chamber that night. It was not until a few nights later that Harry had chosen to follow it, approaching Ginny to play a game of Exploding Snap. While they had not spoken of the pull, the feelings they had or what had happened in the Chamber, they had, by unspoken agreement, understood that they had a friend they knew they could trust and confide in. It was the friendship they both cherished the most, one that had become the basis for their relationship. Simply put, they were best friends.
"Can I ask if there are pairs who never progress beyond stage three?" Ginny asked. It was something that both of them had wondered about, but had never actually spoken aloud to anyone but each other. The book Bill had given them, when they finally came to understand that there was something more to the friendship they shared, had said nothing. They had discussed it, of course, as neither had wanted to attempt a relationship if one of them did not feel that way about the other. Thankfully, that had never happened.
"It's rare, Miss Weasley," the headmaster explained. "If it does happen, it will usually be because one of the bonded pair has sadly passed on to the next great adventure. The breakdown of the friendship between a bonded pair rarely happens. Remember, free will is an essential part of this bond."
Harry, in that moment, was grateful that they had progressed beyond the third stage of their bond. He couldn't imagine how those people felt not being able to move forward with their other half. Both Harry and Ginny had known, even before they confessed their feelings for one another, that they didn't want to live without the other, no matter what the status of their relationship was.
"It was just over two years between the third and fourth stage of your bond," Dumbledore moved on once more. "I have to admit, even before I was made aware of your bond before the second task, many of the inhabitants of the castle, myself included, were wondering when you would admit your feelings for each other."
"We are very much aware of the betting pool that the twins set up," Harry admitted, sensing the headmaster knew, but did not want to admit to it.
"Ah, somehow I am not surprised by that. Even so, the friendship you had developed grew deeper throughout the tournament and it was clear that you, Harry, were heavily reliant on it as you struggled with being the unexpected fourth champion. Anyone who saw you dancing together on the night of the Yule Ball could see the friendship moving towards something more. So, I must admit I am surprised to see the date of stage four being completed was the day of the final task. It seems no one was aware of the change in the relationship until after we had returned to Hogwarts this past September. May I ask how it came about?"
"I pulled Harry in an empty classroom before dinner, told him how I felt and kissed him," Ginny confessed, blushing as she did so.
"And may I ask why that specific day?" Dumbledore asked, ignoring the couple's embarrassment over discussing a personal moment for them. "Why not before that day or a much later date?"
"It was the evening of the third task. We knew Harry had been entered for a reason, but we had yet to find out why and we both knew it would be the third task that gave us the answer. I had held off telling Harry how I felt out of fear of him not feeling the same way. I was scared of something happening to him and knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't tell him how I felt. It was the only thing I could do, because I would have willingly taken his place just to protect him from whatever he would be facing in the maze."
Even though Harry remembered being told the exact same thing by Ginny when she confessed her feelings for him, it all finally clicked into place for him. He finally understood what played an important part of the bond progressing. He had felt the same way the night he had rescued her from the Chamber and also earlier that evening at the Ministry. While Ginny would deny she needed it, Harry would do anything to protect her from harm and would willingly exchange places with her if it meant she could remain safe.
"It's the need to protect one another," Harry quietly said. "Our bond isn't just about us being two halves of a soul, it's about the need to love, trust and protect the other half. It's the reason why the bond is breakable until it is completed. One half will protect the other no matter what the circumstances. It is part of why we can feel each other's emotions, locations and pain."
"I believe you are correct, Harry," Dumbledore replied, pride evident in his voice. "Had your bond completed itself tonight, then, from that point onwards, not only would you have been betrothed to one another, but if one of you were to die, the other would follow. Not only does that need to protect one another allow the bond to progress, but it would halt it from doing so if the next stage will put one of you at risk."
"That makes sense," Ginny said in agreement, "but that doesn't explain what stopped our bond from completing. I know I would do anything to keep Harry safe, even step in front of a Killing Curse for him if it meant he continued to live. Yet, somehow I don't believe it was us consciously deciding to protect the other when we were ripped apart."
Thinking back to the moment they had kissed after declaring their love for one another, Harry knew he had not been thinking about anything but how much he loved his girlfriend and the incredible feeling of Ginny and her magic wrapping around him.
"Please remember that this is still all guesswork," the headmaster stated clearly. "Most of what I have told you is based on what information is available on soul bonds, which you know, from the book Bill gave you, is not very much. The rest comes from what you, as a couple, have been kind enough to share with me and from observing you."
The couple nodded in understanding. They had chosen to be honest with the headmaster, not just because of their fear of what it would have meant for them when Ginny was used as Harry's hostage in the second task, but also because of Voldemort and his determination to destroy Harry.
"As a bonded couple, you have face multiple challenges that many other couples, bonded or not, generally do not face. All of which, I might add, you have faced admirably and with incredible courage. What differs, however, from yourselves and other bonded couples, is the addition of a third connection. The one between Harry and Voldemort, a connection we have yet to fully understand."
"I have never felt anything from that connection through my own with Harry," Ginny argued.
While they had begun sharing emotions, following their first kiss, Ginny had never felt the emotions felt from the Dark Lord. It was something they had not been able to explain, except that the connection was completely separated from their own.
"That, I believe, is Harry's soul protecting your own from that connection. I think it would be safe to assume that Harry's soul has sought to protect your own, Miss Weasley, from the moment you first met and has and will continue to do so. Therefore, I can only conclude that the connection between Harry and Voldemort would be a major risk to your own had the bond been allowed to complete itself. Why? I could not answer, but until Voldemort is defeated for good, the bond, it seems, will not be able to be completed."
Harry could not deny it was well thought-out explanation and found he agreed with the assessment of the potential risks. Yet, at the same time, it brought up several questions, like what was so dangerous about his connection with Voldemort that it could potentially put the love of his life at risk? It was a question that he would put to the back of his mind now as he needed to deal with the fact that the fate of the wizarding world appeared to rest on his shoulders.
"I think that what you said makes the most sense," Harry finally said in response. "I know I would do anything to protect Ginny, especially after the events of her first year here. I don't want to ever go through anything again that takes away the control she has over what happens to her."
Harry looked at his girlfriend, grateful to see her smiling at his words.
"I would do the same for Harry," she said in agreement, keeping her eyes locked with those of her boyfriend's. "I would willingly swap places with him if I could."
"I know you are most likely disappointed that your bond has not completed itself," Dumbledore kindly said to them, his eyes twinkling as he observed them, "but your love for one another and the need to protect each other proves just how deep and strong your bond is. It is most certainly a beautiful sight to see when you two are in each other's company."
Harry and Ginny blushed at the compliment.
"However, I do believe I have kept you here long enough. Madam Pomfrey will not be pleased if she is delayed from checking you over for injuries."
The comment immediately brought back the overwhelming grief that Harry had managed to push aside as they spoke about the bond. He had failed to protect his godfather, while managing to protect his girlfriend from a connection he did not understand. He didn't want to lose anyone else, couldn't bear the thought of losing Ginny and did not want anyone to go through what he had done tonight or in the past.
"The prophecy," Harry stated.
"What about it, Harry?"
"It's the reason Voldemort tried to kill me, the reason he continues to come after to me. He fully believes in what it says, doesn't he? Well, then, I will do what needs to be done and finish him off, once and for all. I don't care what it takes. I am going to end him."
Dumbledore smiled as Ginny hugged Harry, pushing feelings of love and pride through their bond.
"That is a courageous step to take, Harry," Dumbledore replied. "I shall begin giving you and Ginny private lessons come September, which will allow you to begin taking the necessary steps towards defeating Him. However, for now, please take all the time you need to grieve for your godfather."
"Thank you, sir," Harry graciously said as he took his girlfriend's hand before standing to leave for the hospital wing.
The prophecy is taken from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix UK Edition.
The second chapter of Heart & Soul should be published on January 31st.