Soul bound dead or alive

Originally bound by Bamon

A/N: I don't own that magic that is the Harry Potter series. I just love it and enjoy looking into possible endings other than HG/RW because Ron is too dumb to deserve Hermione. The first few chapters will be Bamon's with changes than after chapter 5 it will be all me! Enjoy some Hogwarts hijinks!

"Hermione?"

A voice called although the woman in question did not hear. In fact, she didn't hear much of anything since she was fast asleep with the side of her head laid on the pages of a very thick tome she had been reading. The tome was laid on Hermione's regular table in the back of the library with various other books, tomes, scrolls, and grimoires laid out around it. Some of them open others shut, and others still piled up. Due to the stacks of books the bushy brunette hair of the infamous Hermione Granger couldn't be seen.

"Hermione?"

The voice called out again only louder this time. The only answer was a rather loud snore that could have been mistaken for a snort.

"Hermione!"

The voice said sharply, Very close this time. Causing Hermione to bolt right up. Her hair sticking out everywhere in a wild manner, and her face having a bewildered look on it! After blinking a few times her eyes cleared enough to see Minerva standing in front of her table with an eyebrow raised in amusement and a look of exasperation on her face. Hermione couldn't help but blush in embarrassment.

"Headmistress! I'm so sorry. I have been working hard on finding a loophole in this marriage law."

She stuttered, trying hard to sound professional even thought she had just been sleeping on her books in the library instead of in her new quarters. Minerva gave a deep, resigned sigh before picking the quill out from Hermione's unruly hair.

"First off Hermione I thought I told you to call me Minerva or Minnie if you like. We have been through a war together for goodness sake. And secondly you and I both know that they wrote that law knowing full well that you would be included in it and would try to find a way out of it. So basically, its fool proof."
The no-nonsense look on Minerva's face causing Hermione to shrink in her seat. She couldn't help it. The thought of having to marry anyone, especially a pureblood, just to obey this stupid law was just ridiculous. Then of course there was the baby clause of the law! The newly married couple would need to become pregnant within 1 year of the marriage. Hermione was dead set against it! She abhorred it. Mostly though she knew the consequences if no one married her. They would snap her wand and her mind would be obliviated. Her a Hero of the war and the Brains of the golden trio and she still felt that no one would want her. The only man that ever wanted her was Victor Krum and even that didn't last long. After a few letters over the summer after the tri-wizard tournament he stopped writing. The fact that she was still a virgin said it all. She was a full 2 years ahead of her friends thanks to her time-turner use. That made her 19 this year. Most of the 7th years had decided to return this year to finish off there schooling. Over the summer Hermione took her NEWT'S so she could take on a dual apprenticeship. She was hoping to do 2 now and 2 later. Charms and transfiguration would be first and when the school got a better potion master, she would do athermancy and potions apprenticeships. With all this planning when would she have time for a relationship let alone a baby!

"I know. I just hoped that they would overlook something…"

Hermione found herself trailing off with a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders.

"Cheer up, all is not lost dear girl."

Minerva said with a grin, and Hermione swore when she looked up there was a very Dumbledore like twinkle in her eyes.

"what do you mean?"

She asked warily, not entirely she if she should have even asked, let alone find out what could possibly be an alternative.

"It's mostly forgotten now but that is a spell so old that it was even before even our founder's time. Not only that but no wand would be needed, nor words be said. In this spell your body would be your wand and your mind and heart the focus instead of your words. This spell is not to be used lightly, however. Whilst the preparations for the spell is easy the spell itself is dangerous. Only the strong, the truly powerful, could do it and come out alive. Your magic core pulses out though your body, your feet, into the earth, and it shoots right in the heart of the earth. Where our magic comes from, and it answers by combining your magic with magic from the core before sending it across the world. It will drain you of a lot of your magic. Hence why only the truly powerful survive. It takes a lot, and if used by someone not strong enough it would not only drain you of all your magic with no hope of replenishing, but in the worst cases it has resulted in death."

Minerva explained, watching as Hermione listened with rapt attention.

"What kind of spell does that? Why would someone risk death?"

Hermione whispered, feeling respect for the spell even without knowing its usage.

"It's a spell to call for your soulmates."

The younger witch frowned at that.

"Soulmates? Surely you mean soulmate. A soul should only have 1 other half, right?"

She questioned, unable to understand why Minerva would have used a plural version of the word.

"We as humans are at the core complex beings. Sometimes having only one other is too little. For example, you are a very intelligent young woman. You would need someone of equal intelligence for you to converse with. You also have such a large honest heart that you need someone of a similar nature. You're polite and serious. Someone of a playful nature would be a good balance for you since you tend to over-work and thus need someone to get you to relax and just enjoy being the age you are. You are a muggle-born and whilst that is not a bad thing, there are parts of the magical world you do not know nor could understand. You would need someone who can introduce you to every part of our world to the very core of it. You are passionate in what you believe in, in all the work you do, and yet when it comes to the opposite sex there is nothing of that passionate nature to be seen. Someone primal, maybe deeply romantic, someone that can alight you in the deepest of passions without it having to be about work… could you find that all in one man?"

In the muggle world marrying more than one person was against the law and looked down upon with disgust. However, when Minerva explained things like that, she couldn't help but consider maybe some people did need more than one soulmate.

"The more complex we are the more soulmates we truly have. Whilst each one will fulfill every part of you, each one will have their own strength and weaknesses. Where one is slightly weaker, another will be stronger in it. Whilst in the muggle world it is looked down upon here it is celebrated. It is so very rare to find one person with multiple soulmates, it takes a complex nature and a lot of power in their magic, that when it does happen, they are worshipped and envied in equal measure. Hermione, you are a very complex and powerful witch. You are the brightest of our generation and you recently took the spot of having the highest examination marks of all time! Beating even our own Severus Snape. Even as a student not one of your peers or those older than you could come anywhere near to everything that you deserve and need. Power can be a beautiful and terrible thing. Each one of us needs something or someone to ground us. That is what soulmates do for each other and so much more."

Minerva added as she sat down beside Hermione whilst placing a hand over the young brunettes. Hermione knew what Minerva was saying. She knew That her Master wanted nothing but her happiness, as it was, she had little time to find anyone who she would be happy marrying. She had already spent most of her time researching a way out of the law and as such had just over a month left to marry. Although this spell would give Hermione her soulmate/s it had great consequences. She could lose her magic, she could die, and if it did work although she would have her soulmate or soul mates, she would still have a relationship to build. However, if the spell did work and she survived she supposed at least than she would have someone that she could get along with. Of course, she might not see how they could get along, but magic had never steered her wrong before. If anyone could do this spell it was her. After all she was the only one that could brag to have made Polyjuice potion (a NEWT level potion) in her second year, and it worked perfectly. Well besides her portion but that was all because she used the wrong hair.

"Okay, I'll do it. What do I have to lose?"

Hermione agreed, giving off a casual tone but both witches knew this was a very serious thing.

"Great! Let's get you fed than. Do you feel rested?"

Minerva said with a grin excited to help her apprentice. If anyone deserved to be happy it was Hermione.

"Yes, despite my sleeping position it does feel as if I am entirely rested."

Hermione responded to which Minerva gave a happy nod. The headmistress stood up briskly, and with a wave of her wand she had all the books back in their rightful place as well as parchment and quills back in Hermione's bag. Once Hermione had her bag's strap slung over her arm, Minerva led her through the library before taking her to the didn't take to long to get there, and once there did a hoard of house-elfs immediately came over to ask what they desired as well as pushing both women in to chairs eagerly. Hermione had never gotten used to this treatment and despite the failure of S.P.E.W she couldn't help but still believe the essential principles were still right.

A small feast was served to them moments later. There was a large pot of tea, scones, Cornish cream, and strawberry jam without the bits, as well as 2 large servings of lasagna, roast beef, and potatoes in 3 different ways. By the time they were finished Hermione felt fit to burst. Seeing as she often worked ninety five percent of each 24-hour day she rarely took the time to sit and eat. Of course, this was all her own doing, she would readily admit to it. Afterall there was always something new to learn, something that she could improve on. So, Hermione always took her meals on the go or with a quill in her hand, after all she was trying to complete 4 years of apprenticeship in 2. The only time was not studying she was sleeping and even than she only did sleep when her body would not stay awake any longer.

"Ready?"

Minerva asked to which Hermione nodded. Yes, she was ready. Hermione had put this off to long this spell was one of her only options. If not this spell than Hermione would have to have her wand snapped or deal with a ministry appointed match from the small pool of wizards that hadn't married yet. Lost in her thoughts she didn't realize that her and Minerva had made it to the courtyard of Hogwarts. It seems that Minerva had known her answer about the ritual before hand as there was symbols drawn on the pillars. Minerva was standing in the spot she had been standing in when she cast the spell to bring the statues alive during the final battle. She turned to look at Hermione.

"I set up the spell here for the same reason I used this spot for the shield and the guardian spell. Hogwarts was not just built here because the scenery. On this very spot is a special magical funnel that although cannon be seen, it can be felt as well as tapped into. Of course, this takes a great power and a pure heart. Druids worshipped and did their rituals here. This very place is one of the few spots around the world that you can channel your magic into the heart of the world's magic."

Minnie explained, and as she did Hermione looked around at the runes. Hermione noticed that they had been drawn in charcoal instead of salt or sulfur. The northern rune was soul southern was heart the western rune was truth and the eastern rune was match. Hermione knew that in both fiction and reality often the directions were the basis for old spells and that if the spells were to work the directions would need to be blessed. It made Hermione wonder why blessing the directions was not taught in school. As if reading her mind Minerva got Hermione's attention.

"Hermione the runes in this spell that you will be blessing equate to 'the truth of the hearts match for your soul'. Now come and stand where I am, then empty your mind. Feel your magic, feel the string of raw magic beneath your feet and stretch your magic towards it. When you are connected to the magic of the world you will turn to each direction and let it feel your respect and honesty, before coming to face north again. Then let your mind fill with one thought. Ask the worlds magic to find your heart's equal. You must be exact in that. It will give the magic room to find more than one soulmate should it be needed. And let me tell you it will be needed."

Minerva winked at the last part as she moved from her space. Hermione took a deep breath before nodding. She slid off her robes and the rest of her clothing as old spells required nothing between the caster and the magic. Then leaving her wand on top of her clothes she took her place at the center of the spell. When Hermione took her place, she reached out with her magic and was taken by surprise. The worlds magic was strong but not overpowering as she though it would be. It was kind of like seeing a parent after years of being away. A warm hug from someone you consider home.

After she finished showing her respect to the directions she turned north and asked for her hearts equal. She felt the magic of the world start to flow away from her and Hermione thought that maybe she did something wrong. Suddenly there was a harsh tug that felt like a Norwegian Ridgeback had sunk its teeth in to her soul and was flying at the speed of light into the earth with her soul still in its grasp. It was so excruciating that she fell to her knees panting, than she felt a massive thud like a asteroid the size of 10 elephants had slammed into the earth, and at the point of impact a pulse shot out from the center point so strong the ground shook for miles around. Later the public would announce it as a high-level earthquake.

This all happened in under a minute, and once the pulse simply fizzled out Hermione feel on to her side on the ground. Although she was conscious, she felt exhausted. She felt as if she had only the smallest amount of magic left in her, something told her that her magic would be fine and all she needed to do was sleep and let the earths magic do as she asked of it. Hermione managed to look at Minerva for a second before she gave up the fight and let the darkness embrace her.