Injured but Not Broken – Chapter 3 (Soulbonds)
"Were you actually looking for me? Graham wanted to know after he had found an abandoned classroom. He had made sure it was warded.
"Looking implies I didn't know where I was going." Harry chuckled as he sat down on the floor legs bent up, arms behind his back on the floor supporting his weight.
He had recalled the way that Potter... no Harry had headed straight for him.
"Yeah, I wanted to check on you. I've been trying since you got out of the Hospital Wing, but you were never alone." Harry grumbled the last part in annoyance.
That made Graham snickered, "that happens when you have protective friends that want to throttle Gryffindors. I say if Marcus or Terence didn't appreciate your Quidditch skills, they may have cursed you."
Suddenly Harry's mood darkened, anger wasn't an expression Graham had seen on Harry's face. Even with Malfoy, he just seemed bothered, like with a bug.
"I don't blame your friends, the twins deserve it," Harry said shortly, he had already gone off on the twins. He loved them dearly, they were like older brothers to him. But he was extremely pissed off with them currently, and they knew it.
He knew they wouldn't apologize to Graham for what they did. He knew that they thought what they did was funny. That he was just a Slytherin. Perhaps why it had made him so angry was, that is exactly what Dudley would have done to him if he had magic. For once, he hated that Gryffindors would hate on another house just because. He was just as guilty; he had done it too.
But he had overheard them, stuck in limbo? Did that mean that if he hadn't overheard the twins and found Snape, Graham would be dead?
And was it horrible that Harry hadn't felt sorry for Graham until he learned more about him? Something he knew wasn't meant for his own ears.
"How did you find me that day, it was in a deserted corridor, I was honestly trying to apparate out when you did find me." Graham admitted.
"You can't apparate in Hogwarts." Harry gasped.
"Yeah, but I was running out of options," Graham grunted. "So, what were you doing there?"
"I had overheard them... gloating. I knew what cabinet. All because of my second year, I had come back in from Quidditch practice. I was covered in mud and Filch went mental on me for dragging it inside. He dragged me to his office by my ear, it was painful enough for me to yell out. Anyways, Peeves has a soft spot for me, he was close with my dad and his friends. Pranksters who worshipped him." Harry let out a laugh at that. He had been hearing stories about the Marauders from Peeves since his first year. Turns out a little respect and humour were all you need to get on Peeves good side.
"Anyway, Peeves smashed the cabinet you were stuck in over Filch's office so I could escape... it's my fault."
Harry looked so upset that Graham was startled. How could he possibly think it was his fault? the friendship with the school's poltergeist was just as baffling, but maybe not as pressing.
"Harry," Graham started. "It isn't your fault. Peeves breaks things constantly, and he did it to actually help a student, which we will talk about later. But even if it hadn't been broken, the twins were the ones who pushed me into it, not you."
Harry still didn't look quite convinced at that. Even if the cabinet hadn't been broken, Graham still would have been shoved in it. He wouldn't have gotten so stuck that he had to get a professor. He may have not known exactly what happened to Graham, but he knew it was bad and he was still struggling with it. How could it not be his fault?
"Harry" Graham spoke, he tucked his pointer finger under Harry's chin, thumb resting in the chin's divot. He pulled Harry's chin up, forcing him to make eye contact again.
"I can see the guilt on your face, even for a Gryffindor you are extremely expressive."
Harry's face flushed, damn Slytherins... Why did they have to be so confusing?
"I promise, I don't blame you," Graham swore, he looked so sincere and spoke so firmly, Harry had no choice but to nod weakly.
But he couldn't help but notice the warm of Graham's fingers. They weren't as rough as he thought they would be. He played Quidditch as much as him, definitely better than the dainty feel of a witch's. Even though he knew that Graham had probably been playing Quidditch one more year than he had.
Harry couldn't help but whimper when Graham removed his hand, but the smirk on Graham's lips and the delight in his eyes meant he hadn't managed to suppress it like he had hoped.
Harry wanted to groan; he knew that Graham would hold that against him later. But how was he supposed to react? He had a hot and attractive Slytherin touching him... Was apparently his soulbond... How else was he supposed to react?
God kill him now... he thought hopelessly
"Well, should I try to explain a bit more now?" Graham asked, he wrinkled his nose a bit, if they were going to sit for anymore length of time, he would rather be comfortable. With a swish of his wand and a muttered enchantment, he turned one of the old desks into a large leather settee.
"That's better." He grumbled as collapsed down.
"Wow..." Harry gasped jumping up and running his hands over it. "That was amazing!" He cried dropping down in the spare space feet tucked up under him as he sat sideways to face Graham.
Graham smiled fondly, resisting the urge to snort. There was a part of himself that wanted to preen at that. All his life, he had been told what a disappointment he was to his family name. That he was no better than a Mudblood, as his father would say. It had been to the point of not really believing what he did was all that spectacular. It almost created a spark in him. He knew that his mother had told him differently over the years. Always encouraged him and believed him when his father didn't. He honestly didn't think the wizard was capable of love. He couldn't bear to think if he hadn't had his mother's influence in his life, despite being a Slytherin. His father probably would have killed him if he had been sorted into any other house.
Harry's sweet voice drifted through the darkness, pulling him forward. "Graham?" He shook his head as his mind cleared, Harry was leaning on his shins. "Where'd you go just then?" Harry asked softly, his hands grabbing Graham's, soothingly rubbing his thumbs over the back of them.
"I am alright, we can talk about that stuff later." Graham winced, he did hope Harry would forget, but if he had a similar family as he implied, then maybe he would find it easier to talk about.
"You want to know about soul marks right?"
Harry nodded happily, he would let it go, for now, he knew what it was like, and he would wait for Graham to come to him when he was ready. Maybe one day he could open up to Graham as well, although if his word vomit today was any indication, he definitely felt like he can open up to the Slytherin.
"Okay, so a soulbond is the purest magic there is, a gift from Lady Magic herself. It is similar to the Magic we use to charge our Patronus'." Graham started, remembering back to how his Mother explained it.
"It is believed every Magical soul has a soulmate out there. Witches and Wizards with creature inheritances feel the pull strong enough to actively seek out their bond. But for normal Witches and Wizards, we don't feel that pull like a guide. So, there are cases of soulbonds never meeting, it is a big fear for most of us. When we touch for the first time, the mark appears and glows, it is believed that the glow is your soulmates magic merging with yours." Graham took a moment to make sure Harry was still following. Merlin, he hadn't talk this much since he was a child and his father had screamed at him that children were to be seen not heard. He hadn't talked much since then.
"What does the image of them mean?" Harry asked curiously, still on his shins, he leaned forward, thoroughly engrossed. Graham grinned.
"So, each mark itself is unique, but they are always in the same spot for each pair." Graham stopped to pull his shirt up again. "My mark is a bouquet of lilies and a snake with your green eyes."
"My mother and my Parselmouth ability?" Harry asked, grinning when Graham clapped his hands with an 'exactly'.
"So, what is mine?" Harry asked as he leaned back to lift his own shirt.
"The Tree of Life, it's a symbol of healing and fertility, it also what is on the robes you get once you become a fully licensed Healer, the green is the colour of the robes themselves."
"Healing?" Harry asked, forcing himself to ignore the fertility part for now.
"I am apprenticing under Madam Pomfrey," Graham admitted, he braced himself, although Harry was sweet and kind, he was still a Gryffindor. He couldn't help but prepare for the harsh words of how it was a pathetic profession. How he should have a real wizards job.
Even his mother had frowned upon what he wanted to do. But she hadn't said a harsh word about it, not like his father had. It had been so bad he almost considered changing his profession. He would have if Madam Pomfrey hadn't cursed him for that one.
He was not expecting Harry to grin so widely it hurt.
"That's amazing!" Harry exclaimed.
"What?" Graham asked dumbly.
"It is so sweet you want to help people. Would you want to work here and eventually take over Madam Pomfrey's job? Or do you want to work in St Mungos? Does the Wizarding world have private Healing offices?" Harry shot off one after the other.
"Wow, Harry, breathe." Graham chuckled. "I am not sure of where I want to be after completing my training yet. I love Hogwarts, and Madam Pomfrey had mentioned retiring before. But I've got time to figure it out. I've got to be an apprentice for at least three years before I can take the exams to qualify."
"I didn't expect you to react so well to that," the Slytherin had been startled when that slipped out.
Upon Harry's puzzled look, he elaborated.
"I've not had the best reactions before..." Graham muttered
"Expectations?" Harry asked suddenly sad. "I get it, everyone expects stuff, even my best friends have decided I will be an Auror after Hogwarts." Harry rolled his eyes. "I've never said I want to fight, yeah I like helping people but I don't like fighting."
"What do you want to do?" Graham asked, feeling angry when the Gryffindor looked shocked that he asked. As if he had never been asked that before. Which he probably hadn't.
"Honestly, I thought about Healing after Madam Pomfrey fixed my arm up in my second year with the whole Lockhart debacle. But this year, I've been helping some students study Defense," Harry whispered this, eyes darting around even though he had seen Graham smother the room in wards.
"I am really enjoying teaching." Harry seemed to brace himself as if preparing for teasing. Graham felt angry at how similar the two were in these ways. Unlike himself, Harry was sweet and young and pure. He wanted to protect and maybe even corrupt that.
"Maybe we will end up here together then." Graham teased with a smirk.
Harry's lips twitched; he hadn't really thought about that. He had always viewed Hogwarts as his home, the prospect of teaching was now even more appealing to him.
But the soulmark was still a bit confusing to him. Did that mean he was supposed to date or marry Graham? He honestly wasn't too against that. He knew that he preferred guys. Witches fretted too much. And it wasn't like Graham wasn't appealing to look at. It was hard enough to not look at him.
"So, what more can you tell me about soul marks?" Harry blushed.
"It is said that every soul has a perfect match. The one that completes you, that Magic herself has chosen the only one to bring you happiness and fulfilment. Now, this goes into the magical sex ed stuff I mentioned earlier as well." Graham said, how he managed to speak of it so easily astounded Harry, he felt himself blush just listening to him speak.
"Now, sex isn't something Magical's take lightly. In the magical world, sex can bind two people together. It can be soulmate's with their first time together, or even with just people with compatible magical cores. That bind is more powerful than marriage. It is literally, death does us part. You cannot separate and be with someone else if you bind with someone. It is not something to be taken lightly. This can be both good or bad. The good is with a happy soulmate couple, they can share magical core strength, protect each other, feel each other's emotions. It is the purest form of love. The stuff Muggle fairytales are made of. Which I never understood much of to begin with. But whatever keeps them content. Long as we don't have to encounter another Witch Trials," Graham muttered
"And the bad?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Some people are cruel and evil; I know this better than most." Graham nodded with a grimace.
"My father is one of them, he was cruel and dark from a child, he and my Mother are souls bonded, which he did to trap her. He wasn't a good man to begin with and she couldn't escape. But to make things worse shortly after they bonded, he took the Dark Mark," Graham said, flinching at the admittance. Surely Harry would leave screaming now.
"Do you want to take it?" Harry asked, looking like he knew the answer. Graham shook his head furiously.
"You are not your Father or his choices," Harry said simply before encouraging him to continue.
"Well, the Dark Mark, it is pure evil, I have only heard of one thing darker. But that's not important. The Dark Mark can only be given from Master to Slave after the slave has willingly murdered someone. All those that got away because they claimed the Imperious Curse. Which they only got away with because no one researched the mark. But the murder has to be done freely and with them in full control."
Harry scowled, he had heard of the many Death Eaters that had gotten off, most of them inside the Ministry now.
"The Dark Mark, it is powerful, and the exact opposite of a soul mark. They fight each other, the Dark Mark taints the soulbond, it eats at the connection. You could feel the connection when we touched the marks earlier, we both could. That is how powerful it is without unbonded. bonded it is even more so. The connection meant he couldn't hurt her, she could send love and happiness down the line, and he would feel it enough to pull him out of his rage and hate. The Dark Mark ate at the connection so badly that she wasn't able to use it anymore. It also enhances the qualities you needed to achieve it. It destroys everything. And a soulbond means you cannot escape, even it is tainted.
The only way out of a soul bond is for death for one party." Graham concluded with a sigh.
"I am sorry," Harry whispered, grabbing Graham's hand tightly.
"I was always afraid of finding my soul mate," Graham admitted with a tremble, voice catching in his throat. "Afraid that they would be like my father, or worse, I would become like him."
The heavy silence weighed on both boys. The darkness and evil that laid beyond the shelter of Hogwarts had stunted them both. Unfortunately, they knew better than most that the evil out there, didn't leave children alone just because they were young.
"I don't think you could ever turn out like him," Harry whispered, leaning into Graham's warmth.
"What makes you think that?" Graham snorted, hesitantly raising his arm and wrapping it over Harry's shoulder.
"The fact you are worried about it," Harry responded confidently. "Evil people, they don't worry about being evil."
The remark caught Graham a little off guard, of course a Gryffindor would think that. But somehow, it still warmed his heart. Never had he pictured himself having a soulbond, and a Gryffindor one at that.
He looked over at Harry and felt himself smile, uncontrolled. The young Gryffindor was beautiful and his happiness so expressive over his face.
"And you wouldn't be opposed to having a soulbond that is a Slytherin and has a Death Eater father?" Graham asked, almost afraid of the answer.
It was something he never wanted to ask, because he knew, deep down what the answer would be. Nobody wanted a Slytherin for a soulbond unless you were already a Slytherin or maybe a Ravenclaw. And nobody ever wanted someone that was associated to a dark family, even if he wanted no part of it.
"Blood doesn't make family." Harry replied simply. "You are your own person. Plus, the hat wanted to place me in Slytherin." He grinned cheekily.
"Wait!? What!?" Graham gapped at him. Not quite believing his ears.
Harry laughed, his head tossed back, emerald eyes twinkling. "Yeah, the hat said I could be great and Slytherin would help me achieve it. But I was an eleven-year-old kid that was new to magic. All I knew about the houses were that Voldemort and Malfoy were Slytherin's. So, I said not Slytherin. Apparently, Gryffindor was next best house for me."
Graham shook his head, "I'm positive that you would not want Professor Snape as your Head of House. There are some days I would prefer to have Professor McGonagall..."
Harry's delicate laugh was like music to Graham's ears. "Yeah, Snape doesn't like me much." Harry grinned shaking his head, black hair flopping around his face.
"Professor McGonagall is pretty great. Strict and firm but she always listens to me when I need to talk. Unfortunately, she can be a slave driver if you start slipping in your classes." Harry chuckled with an eye roll.
Graham snorted, "and she is the only professor that doesn't look at the color of my robes."
He had to take a deep breath as he looked over at Harry, "I don't know if I will fail or even fall in love. But... I want to try... if you will allow me..."
Harry felt his entire body flush with heat as he blushed. He bit his lip and nodded shyly.
"I would like that." green eyes darting to look at Graham's lips nervously.
Graham felt his heart drop, but in a good way.
Harry... wanted to kiss him?
He placed his hand on Harry's cheek and slowly leaned in.
Harry felt his heart racing, he let his eyes slip closed. Excitement filling him when he felt Graham's soft lips touch his own, the warmth and affection filling him.
He gasped when he felt Graham's tongue swipe across his lips.
Graham carded his fingers on his other hand in Harry's hair. He wanted to taste everything about Harry he could. Though he got a strong taste of Treacle Tart on Harry's tongue. Though he took his change when Harry gasped in the kiss as he tangled their tongues together.
Harry mewled into the kiss as he wrapped his arms around Graham's shoulders. Moving to straddle his lap when Graham's other arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him gently.
Graham's thumb gently traced Harry's hip, the same spot where the soulmark was as he continued the hot kiss.
The sounds coming from Harry should be illegal he mused as he squeezed the younger's hips and pulled him into his chest tightly. He never wanted this end. But unfortunately, there was a thing called breathing. So, Graham did have to break the kiss between them.
Harry felt himself blushing and grinning as the kiss broke, he rested his forehead on Graham's still in his lap.
"Wow." Harry breathed, Graham, chuckled breathlessly.
"Yeah," Graham agreed helplessly.
The feelings were intense for the pair of them. And for once, Graham didn't think it was a bad thing to have a soul bond. Especially if they happened to be Harry Potter.
"If that is what kissing my soul bond is like... definitely am going to need a repeat," Graham spoke out loud
Harry blushed harder, shoving his face into Graham's neck with a laugh.
"I wouldn't say no to that," he mumbled. He felt like purring when he felt Graham's fingers clench his hair and held him tight.
It almost felt like he was protecting him. And there could always be more conversations about their lives.
Normally Graham wouldn't open up, but Harry already had a big glimpse in his life before he met him. He didn't think it would be too much of a hardship to let him know more about himself. Something he knew was going to be hard. He never liked talking about himself. It was one thing to talk a little bit about his parents' soulmarks. But it was another thing to be so open about his personal life. Something that his friends didn't know much about.
Perhaps it wouldn't be too bad, especially if he was about to hold Harry like this.
But whatever the future held for him. At least he could face it with his soulbond, Harry. And for once in his life, he wouldn't have to face it on his own.
Which someday... may include his own father.