Author's Note: *** PLEASE READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY!***

This Thormione pairing was inspired by the ingenious works of Canimal and Freya Ishtar along with Kittenshift17. It was through their stories (Canimal's Parolee and his princess ; Freya Ishtar's The Golden Mage's Captive & Kittenshift17's Witch Hunting) that I was able to truly appreciate such a unique pairing.

The term 'Viking' used by Hermione for Thorfinn throughout this story is one that comes from Freya Ishtar. That was her creation and I am merely borrowing it for the purpose of my story (with her permission of course!).

There is not much that is known about Rowle Manor or Thorfinn's family. For the purpose of this story I have created a backstory for the Rowle family. Thus the character of Evangeline ('Evie') Rowle is one of my own creation.

Again I will remind you that pairing was the brainchild of the genius writers I have aforementioned. I kindly ask that if you are tempted to review please bear in mind the time and effort these writers have taken in cultivating such a captivating pairing. We should always give credit where it is due.

Each chapter title is a name of a song. When writing this fic I was heavily influenced by the lyrics of James Arthur, Ed Sheeran, OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons and Bastille. This playlist is available on Spotify if anyone is interested.

This fic is almost completed and I will be probably be updating it once every week. I love reading your reviews and it really does help motivate and improve me writing! So let me know what you liked, loved and hated!

Cover image & fancast – I quite agree with Freya Ishtar's choice for Chris Hemsworth being fancast as Thorfinn Rowle. However when I sat down to write this, the character in my head sort of morphed from Chris Hemsworth to Jason Momoa to finally actor Brock O' Hurn. For the other characters: Dove Cameron as Evie Rowle, Richard Madden as Harry. The rest are canon cast.

Finally I would like to thank Canimal, Kittenshift17 and Freya Ishtar for the amazing stories they have taken the time to write. A special thank you to Freya Ishtar for being a super cool and supportive writer who didn't mind at all when I bombarded her with questions! If you ever read this story, I really can't thank you enough!

Content warning: Language, Smut , Violence

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all the characters from the Potter Universe belong to J.K Rowling.

Impossible

Thinking all you need is there

Building faith on love and words

Empty promises will wear

"I don't think I heard that correctly," Thorfinn Rowle said looking between the two figures seated at the table with him.

"No you heard right," Kingsley Shacklebolt said.

Thorfinn laughed mirthlessly, "You really expect me to believe I'm bonded, soul bonded for life to a woman whom I once tried to kill?"

"Unfortunately that is the case," Kingsley answered. "The circumstances are rather … peculiar. We have tried to undo it but we have been unsuccessful."

Thorfinn frowned, "Maybe you should try again," he snapped.

There was a huff from the witch sitting beside Kingsley, "Don't you think we've done that?" she asked.

"There must be a solution to this," Thorfinn argued.

"Believe me we've looked," the woman retorted.

Thorfinn sneered, "Of all the people I had to go and get accidentally bonded to, it had to be you, Granger."

Hermione glared at the large man seated before her," It's not like I want this! I tried to undo it. I tried to reject the bond," she nearly cried subconsciously rubbing at her chest, "But it won't take!"

"What wouldn't take?" Thorfinn asked confused.

"Our magic! It won't allow me to undo the bond!" She huffed out frustrated.

Thorfinn watched her as she rubbed her chest again. It dawned on him then; the tightness in his chest that he'd been experiencing. The dull ache that had been growing in his chest these past few months until it had become nearly unbearable. He felt the unfamiliar tingle of magic – not his- lingering on his fingertips. For a few maddening moments he thought his magic was leaving him, a punishment of some kind for joining the Dark Lord's doomed crusade. But now he knew it was their bond, trying to pull them together. Holy fucking Merlin, he was bonded; to Hermione Granger of all witches.

He looked at her, his hand itching to subconsciously rub his chest, "Fuck," he swore looking at her. "How exactly … I mean I don't recall this happening?"

Hermione sighed and looked at Kingsley rather uncertainly. The Minister nodded and she exhaled before she spoke again, "It happened during the final battle. You saved me from – "

"Greyback," Thorfinn murmured. "That would make this a life debt not a soul bond."

Hermione huffed, "Yes I know the difference between a soul bond and a life debt thank you very much. This is not a life debt. While you did save my life, not moments after you did, there was an explosion. One in which we were both caught under," she reminded him.

Thorfinn nodded. He recalled that moment when he had been thrown into the wall, taking Granger with him as an unfamiliar spell had gone off near them. He couldn't understand why he had done it. He had simply acted on instinct.

"It would seem that in the moment that we were both lying there damn near dying our magic decided to seal us together, bonding us to each other," Hermione explained.

Thorfinn closed his eyes in disbelief, "And you're telling me we can't undo this?" He asked. Hermione nodded, "But we weren't bonded using the traditional spell so how can that be? It should be easy to undo!"

"You're right Mister Rowle," Kingsley said when Hermione looked at him for help, "You two weren't bonded using the traditional spell or incantations; however the bond is just as pure and powerful … if not more given the circumstances it was formed under. Soul bonds aren't broken because as you know that would be like breaking one's soul in two."

Thorfinn winced at that. Yes, he knew the laws of soul bonding, an ancient wizard tradition that was never to be taken lightly for the simply rule that it could not be undone. It had become less popular in the past few years as the numbers in separation and divorce rose. Those hurt the bond just as much as trying to reject the bond. A soul bond, in other words is eternal.

"As I have said Mr Rowle, these are rather peculiar circumstances," Kingsley said.

Thorfinn scoffed. It was more than peculiar, it was fucking outrageous!

"But," Kingsley continued sounding what Hermione thought was a bit too optimistic, "what I think you both must remember is that a soul bond between two people is something to be treasured. This would not have happened if you magic didn't think you two were capable of loving and protecting each other."

Hermione turned and glared at the Minister but he seemed rather undisturbed by it. "As difficult as it is for either of you to believe, you must trust in your bond and magic. Rejecting the bond will only cause you both more harm than necessary. You're both vaguely aware of the pain and consequence that comes with one's soul being torn in two."

Hermione gulped and she looked at Thorfinn to see a rather haunted look in his blue eyes.

"How is this even going to work?" Thorfinn asked, "In case either of you forgot, I'm a criminal awaiting trial. I'm afraid my cell doesn't really accommodate for a soul bonded mate."

"Yes, well we had considered your situation and we've managed to come up with a workable solution," Kingsley said. Thorfinn noticed Hermione shifting in her seat, almost uncomfortably but the minister was talking again so he switched his focus. "You will be granted an early release," Kingsley informed him.

"What's the catch?" Thorfinn immediately asked.

"What does there have to be a catch?" Hermione retorted.

Thorfinn chuckled mirthlessly, "You expect me to believe you're just going to let a known Death Eater walk free because he just so happens to be soul bonded to the – what is it they're calling you?" he asked Hermione, "Oh yes the golden girl," he continued rather sarcastically. "Not fucking likely. So again I ask, what's the catch?"

"Ex," Hermione corrected.

"What?" Thorfinn asked confused.

"You're an ex-Death Eater," Hermione said. "It's over now." She simply said as if that explained it all.

Thorfinn scowled at her, "Ex-Death Eater or not, I doubt that is grounds for a complete pardon. I'm still a criminal," he reminded them holding his hands up just so the shackled clinked nosily together.

Kingsley sighed in resignation ignoring the glaring witch beside him. "You will be granted early parole due to extenuating circumstances. You will still be charged with being a Death Eater but we will tell the public that you have entered into a deal with the Ministry in exchange for a short sentence."

"You're going to make me into a snitch?" Thorfinn asked the words like poison in his mouth.

Kingsley grimaced, "It's the only reason we can give the public about your early release without revealing to everyone that you are soul bonded. As you can imagine not many would be too happy about you not serving time in Azkaban but given your situation that's not a possibility now," He said almost apologetically, "Of course you will released into the custody of a Ministry approved guardian, however you won't have access to a wand nor will you be allowed to use any magic; wandless or non-verbal." Kingsley specified. "That Mister Rowle, will be your punishment."

Thorfinn felt like he'd been kicked in the stomach. He was being given his freedom but his magic would be taken away. Was that really freedom then? He had to ask himself.

"How long?" Thorfinn muttered. "How long won't I have my magic?"

"Four years," Kingsley answered. "The Wizengamot were not accepting of anything less. Although given the severity of the crimes of which you are being charged, this might seem like merely a slap on the wrist."

Thorfinn would have loved to slap somebody then. Soul bonded and without magic. Fucking hell.

"What happens if I use magic? You can't very well throw me back in here? I'm magically attached to another human," Thorfinn questioned derisively.

"We have measures in place to prevent you from using your magic but should you find your way around that, I assure you Mister Rowle the consequences are quite severe," Kingsley warned. Thorfinn raised a brow at this and Kingsley continued, "Should you fail to adhere to these rules, your magic will be taken away, permanently." Kingsley explained.

Thorfinn sucked in a breath. He couldn't bear to not have magic for the rest of his life.

Kingsley rose from his chair, "We will be working on getting you released soon. In the mean time I shall leave you two to chat." He said smiling down at the angry couple. Without another word, he turned and left the room.

Thorfinn looked at the witch before him. The last time he had seen her was nearly six months ago, during the final battle. He had seen her fighting off Fenrir Greyback during the final battle. She had been losing and when Greyback advanced, Thorfinn didn't even think about it, stepping up beside her to help. She had looked up at him all confused and covered in blood and grime. Thorfinn was sure that she was about to hex him too when the explosion had gone off, throwing them both into the air. Instinctively he had reached for her, holding her underneath his big build as debris rained down around them.

They both looked at each other not daring to speak just yet. Hermione had no doubt that much like herself, he was thinking back to that fateful moment that had caused all this.

She had lost Harry and Ron at some point during all the chaos. After Harry had jumped up proving he was indeed very much alive, everything went shit shaped. Running amongst the wreckage of Hogwarts throwing spells over her shoulder had been hard enough. But then she saw him and more importantly he had seen her, she turned and ran. But she hadn't been fast enough and soon she was duelling the vicious werewolf and losing. There was a searing pain in her side as he threw a particularly nasty hex at her. She had jumped aside but she hadn't been fast enough as it grazed her side. Black spots were beginning to fill her sight and Hermione knew she was in trouble then. Her grip on her wand tightened as she threw up another shield. She looked around helplessly.

Suddenly, she wasn't fighting Greyback alone. A large wizard, almost Viking like in build and manner stood beside her and then he was throwing hexes of his own towards the werewolf. She mustered her courage and was able to help as they knocked out Greyback before Hermione bound him. She turned then to thank her saviour but when she saw his face, she gasped in surprise.

Thorfinn Rowle. The Death Eater who had been sent to kill them at that little coffee shop all those months ago. She gripped her wand tighter raising it a little but he made no indication that he was planning to hex her. Shockingly enough he looked rather worried, for her or for himself, Hermione was uncertain.

She opened her mouth to thank him and perhaps even ask him why he had done it. But before she could get the words out there was a loud BANG! that had sent her flying a few feet into the air. Strong arms gripped around her waist and then she was on the floor, a heavy weight pressing down on her, shielding her as heavy rocks and marble fell around them. There was a ringing in her ears and again her vision filled with black spots. Hermione blinked once, and then twice before looking up to see a bulky figure looming over her protectively. He tucked his head down, closer to hers as another loud BANG! went off. She felt her lungs fill with dust and dirt and coughed harshly. His eyes flickered down to her and again she was surprised to see the concern sneaking out behind his grey orbs. Without thinking and not in her complete state of mind, Hermione reached out a shaky hand to him. He froze, watching her as she brought it to his cheek, her hand settling over the thick beard that covered there. He stiffened at her touch but didn't pull away. She mumbled something incoherent then, her words tumbling into each other that had no chance of being heard over the chaos and din of the war around them. It didn't matter because the next thing she knew, Hermione's hand was slipping from the Death Eater's face as she fell into a state of unconsciousness.

It was all she had remembered of the encounter. When she had come too, Ron was standing over her, shaking her and urging her to get up. She hadn't set eyes on Thorfinn Rowle since then. Despite her account of what had happened, the court decided to punish Thorfinn Rowle as they would any other Death Eater and he had been sent to Azkaban awaiting his trial.

"Why did you do it?" Hermione finally asked.

Thorfinn quirked a brow at her, "Would you prefer I hadn't done it?"

Hermione growled, "Answer the bloody question Rowle,"

"Does it really matter now?" he sneered.

"Yes! It matters! Why did you do it? Why did you help me?" Hermione demanded. "I mean I'm just another mudblood, the kind your Dark Lord wanted to kill," she spat, "So why did you save me? What's another mudblood given to the likes of Greyback really going to matter to you?"

He scowled and leaned forward, "I might be a monster, but even I have standards, darling. I don't care much for your blood. I simply figured a snotty – stuck up Duchess like yourself deserved a better death than that piece of shit Greyback," he said menacingly. "Or maybe it was just a reflex move in the heat of the moment. We were in the middle of a fucking war, in case you hadn't noticed Duchess," he sneered.

Hermione sat frozen for a moment before she scowled, "Don't call me that!"

"What?" he asked a little confused as she'd been the one to use the m word and not him.

"Don't call me a Duchess!" she snapped surprising him, "Or darling! You don't know me to make such assumptions about me!" she fumed.

"Well I could very well say the same for you!" Thorfinn retorted sharply. Hermione opened her mouth to object no doubt but he spoke over her, "Did you not make assumptions about me not two minutes ago?'

That shut her up.

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. "Merlin, if only I'd known saving your life was going to be this much trouble." Thorfinn muttered scowling at the glaring witch in front of him.

"What? Now you expect me to believe you'd let me die?" she asked raising her brows at him. "Pick a story and stick with it, Viking," she patronised.

He smirked and only then did she realise her slip up. "Viking?" he questioned almost arrogantly.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, you remind me of a Viking," she said sticking her nose in the air.

"Oh?" he asked sounding far too amused for her liking.

She huffed, "Hmm, all your burliness and that god damned beard," she said glared, gesturing to him. She tried to put as much displeasure behind her voice but she wasn't entirely sure it worked because despite her best efforts she had to admit, Thorfinn Rowle was rather handsome.

He gave her a rather annoying shit-eating grin and Hermione scowled again. He seemed to be enjoying stroking her ire a little too much but before she could chastise him on that, he leaned forward, pinning her with his gaze.

"What happens now?" he asked a moment later, a seriousness in him that she had not seen before.

"We do as Kingsley said." she answered. "He's going to work on getting you released soon and then …" she trailed off uncertainly.

Thorfinn looked at her before he asked his next question, "Seeing as I'm being released into your custody does that mean I'll have the great pleasure," he said this rather sarcastically, "of sharing a living space with you too?" Hermione worried her bottom lip as she considered his questioned. "I can't imagine your friends will be too happy to know you're shacking up with an ex- Death Eater," he said off-handily. She looked down at her hands then and a realisation dawned on him, "They don't know do they?" he asked smirking.

"No," she answered quietly.

"How long do you plan on keeping me your dirty little secret Duchess?" he mocked.

Hermione scowled, "It's not that simple. I can barely understand this! I need time before I can tell them," she argued.

Thorfinn rolled his eyes, "So obviously we won't be living together."

Hermione shuffled in her seat, "The ministry has agreed to release some of your holdings upon your parole. The Rowle Manor will be available for you should you want it."

Thorfinn nodded, he wasn't particularly unhappy about that but he hated the idea of going home to an empty manor. His sister, Evangeline, had been the only bright spot in that house.

"Kingsley has also spoken to your sister," Hermione went on uncertainly. Thorfinn sat up looking at her, his jaw clenched tightly, "She's expected to arrive in England soon, " she informed him. "She … she um offered to stay at Rowle Manor with you."

Thorfinn inhaled sharply. She was returning for him. After everything he had done, she was willing to come back for him.

He didn't – couldn't say anything so he merely nodded.

Hermione fidgeted nervously for a moment before deciding to speak again. "I know you don't like me," she began.

"I can't say you've been my favourite person especially after that little memory stunt in the coffee shop," Thorfinn interrupted.

"Well you were trying to kill me," Hermione countered.

Thorfinn shrugged, "I have to admit you're rather good with memory charms. Did you know that?" he asked casually.

Hermione swallowed but didn't say anything. She felt her heart drop into her stomach. Yes, she knew all too well how strong her memory charms were. Fighting back her tears and ignoring the very curious look Thorfinn was giving her she simply nodded. She could not – no would not break down in front of Thorfinn Rowle.

"How did you manage to break it?" She inquired genuinely curious hoping to dispel some of the anxiety she felt rising in her.

Thorfinn scratched at his beard, "Only one way to break such a memory charm as powerful as that, Duchess." He said obviously hinting at something.

"Which is?" Hermione pressed feeling her patience wearing thin.

Thorfinn gave her a little smug look, "Go on think about it," he egged on. When she said nothing he laughed much to her chagrin, "Haven't figured it out?" he all but mocked.

This time she did growl her frustration and he laughed, "Fine don't tell me!"

"Keep your bloody panties on Granger," He said still laughing. He levelled her with a look before he answered. "Pain," he simply said. "He tortured me till your crafty little charm broke."

Hermione sucked in a breath. Oh Merlin, she hadn't been expecting that. She felt a wave of pity wash over her for the man seated before her. While he might be rude and arrogant and downright annoying, she didn't like that he had suffered because of her actions.

"Spare me your fucking pity darling," he spat.

Hermione frowned, "I … I wasn't."

"You Gryffindors literally wear your heart on your sleeves. I can see it all over your face," he said gesturing to her.

"Fine," she conceded with a sigh. "I am sorry. I didn't think it would… Merlin I didn't mean for it to go like that –"

"Don't," he said gruffly.

She looked at him with wide eyes wondering if she had somehow insulted him without realising it.

"Don't apologise for trying to survive. I was trying to kill you and you reacted. Leave it at that." He insisted firmly.

Rather surprised Hermione could only nod. "Look like I said, I know you don't like me," she repeated trying to bring them back to point. "But I am hoping we can at least try to be amicable?" she asked.

"You want to be friends?" he asked sarcastically and Hermione flushed, "Why would you want to be friends with the big evil Death Eater?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "You saved my life, I figured that should count for something." She answered. "In any case I imagine it will be a long and tiring existence if we're constantly fighting and I don't know about you but I've had just about enough fighting to last me several lifetimes."

"I don't exactly play well with others, Duchess," Thorfinn retorted, "It's not exactly in the nature of a Death Eater to get along with everyone."

Hermione huffed, "Well can you at least try?" she all but demanded.

Thorfinn chuckled, "Don't hold your breath."

Hermione opened her mouth to reply but thankfully was saved by a bell sounding off. "Time's up," she mumbled. "I guess this is goodbye for now," Hermione said rising from her chair.

Thorfinn nodded, "Until next time Duchess," he waved.

"Insufferable Viking," she groused as she walked out, leaving a smirking Thorfinn behind.

AN: Don't forget to review! Remember it's weekly updates!

Song: Impossible - James Arthur