Author's Notes
Hi everybody, I hope you are all having a great weekend…. here we are then, the final chapter of Bring Me To Life! (Actually, that's not strictly true, there is an epilogue too, but I'm not totally sure if an epilogue counts as part of the story or not...) Anyway, I'm digressing, I need to say that I am so, so, so sorry for the crazily long delay on this chapter, real life went a bit crazy last month and I just didn't have the spare spoons to write or post anything much at all. On the good news front though, the epilogue is fully written and will be posted later on this afternoon. :-)
Just a little heads up, there is a biiiiiiiiiiiiiig smut warning needed on this chapter, so please be aware of that and read this one with caution if needbe.
I hope you all like the ending, thank you for all the wonderful reviews that this story has received so far. It has been such fun to write and it's so encouraging to know that other people are liking it too.
Thank you to my wonderful alpha/beta champagneandliterature for all your help and support. I literally could not have written this without you.
Bring Me To Life - Chapter 15
Hermione opened her eyes, blinking blearily in the late afternoon light. Harry and Draco were both snoring softly in the bed beside her, and since she wasn't sure what had woken her up, she lay still and let her mind begin to drift. It was nice to finally have a chance to process some of the many things that had happened over the last twenty-four hours.
She, Harry, and Draco had woken up that morning with the promise of a quiet Saturday ahead, but their plans for a day of rest and recovery hadn't quite panned out. Sirius and Remus had stayed for the remainder of the morning, Daphne and Theo had popped in to check how everybody was and so that Daphne could administer more restorative potions to Draco, and shortly after that, Blaise and Ginny had arrived.
Despite the extra potions Daphne had given him, Draco was still exhausted from the ritual. He had finally submitted to Daphne's orders mid-afternoon and had reluctantly gone upstairs to sleep some of it off. Hermione had also been forced to give in to her own tiredness and had followed him up to bed half an hour later, leaving Harry to see the last of their visitors out. At some point, Harry had slipped into the bed as well.
As she lay thinking, Hermione became aware of a gentle but insistent tingling in her body. She had been noticing it on and off all day but hadn't yet worked out what was causing it. It was subtle, and it wasn't exactly bothering her, but it was new, she couldn't explain it, and it very definitely hadn't been there before the ritual.
She frowned, wondering what was going on. The tingling wasn't confined to any one part of her body, it seemed to be everywhere at once, and it was pulsing in time with the steady beat of her heart. It wasn't uncomfortable, just a little disconcerting.
She started to move her limbs to see if anything affected the feeling, but there was no change. Whatever she did and however she lay, the subtle but insistent prickling remained the same.
Her movements woke Draco. He yawned, watching her flex her fingers against the light. "What are you doing?" he asked sleepily.
"Everything's tingling," she replied, watching her fingers closely. "It feels weird."
"Oh." Draco stretched, then tugged her closer to him. "That'll be the blood bond."
"How do you mean?" she nestled back into his arms so that she was lying in front of him with him curled up, spooning her from behind. He kissed the side of her neck, and she hummed low in her throat as she pressed herself closer to his lips.
"Blood bonds feel tingly. Like this," he flexed his fingers in the air, "you're feeling the buzz of my magic and Harry's magic inside your veins as well as your own now. I can feel yours too. I like it. It's comforting."
"Oh!" Hermione said in surprise, looking at her fingers once more and resolving to do some research in the library over the weekend. Her knowledge of blood bonds and bonding rituals was scant, to say the least. "Well, in that case, I think I like it too. Will it always feel this strong?"
"Yes," Draco confirmed, kissing the sensitive skin of her neck and causing a rush of arousal to pulse through her, "but you won't notice it so much once you get used to it."
She nodded as he pressed yet more lingering kisses to her jawline. "I se-eee!… oh Gods, Draco, do that again!"
"This?" he asked innocently as his fingers continued to slide under her tank top and around to her breasts, "or this?" she turned her face towards him, and he captured her lips with his own.
"Both!" the word turned into a breathy sigh as he gently tweaked her nipple and rolled his hips into her from behind.
"Do you know how it feels when you consummate a blood bond with sex?" She shook her head in reply. Already the feelings he was eliciting in her were more intense than usual. "I'm told that the initial bonding feels mind blowing. I'm told that a similar, although slightly less intense, connection occurs every time you have sex in the future, too. I'm told that if the bond is between three people, the bonding sensation is indescribable."
"It's a good thing ours is going to be between three of us then, isn't it?" Harry said, opening his eyes with a smile. "I can feel the tingling too. I like it."
"I'll make something tingle in a minute, Potter," Draco promised, grinning as he moved out from behind Hermione, laid her down flat on the bed, and straddled her before leaning down to kiss her again.
"Oh really?" Harry asked, rubbing a hand over his eyes and reaching for his glasses, "promises, promises, Malfoy. How exactly do you plan to do that?"
Draco's chuckle was low as he leaned across Hermione to kiss Harry instead. "Shift closer, and I'll show you."
Hermione watched them with a smile. Draco moved off of her as his and Harry's kiss grew more intense, and eventually, he pulled back, leaving Harry breathless and clearly desperate for more.
Draco used a hand to push Harry's hair back from his forehead, then kissed his scar tenderly. "When you both stated your intentions for the ritual," he asked, gazing deeply into Harry's eyes, "did you realize you were asking for a blood bond? I promise I'm not using legilimency," he said, dropping his gaze to the pillow, "I just need to know."
Harry's eyes were sincere as Hermione turned to watch him, curious about the same thing herself. "Of course," Harry said, reaching up to gently move Draco's fringe out of his eyes. "We'd already discussed and accepted that it might happen naturally when we were talking about the ritual in general. I recognized the blood bond intention in what both of you asked for, so I felt secure enough to ask for it myself as well."
Draco nodded, looking satisfied, then turned to Hermione with a raised brow. "What about you, beautiful?"
"I knew exactly what I was asking for too," she admitted, smiling gently. She was touched by the vulnerability showing in Draco's eyes and was glad he kept his promises and let his true feelings show, rather than guarding them with his Occlumency walls. "I wanted it anyway, plus I wanted to be in control of it, rather than to have it happen on its own organically. I was fairly sure of what Harry was going to say, so once I'd heard it from you too, Draco, it was easy to commit to it myself."
Draco's soft smile told her that he was more than happy with both of their answers. "Good. And just so you know, I wanted it and asked for it specifically, too. So, exactly how mind-blowing do you want the consummation of this bond to be?" he asked, as he stared at them both through heavily lidded eyes.
"Well, we went all out in the ritual, didn't we?" Hermione asked with a giggle, "I gave up doing stuff by half measures a few weeks ago. How mind-blowing can we make it, do you think?"
Draco grinned. "Let's see, shall we?" He inched closer to her and ran his fingers lightly over the fabric of her top, making her already sensitive nipples tighten further. She shifted, wriggling wantonly on the bed and enticing him to touch her further.
"It's already feeling pretty amazing. Everything feels more intense than usual."
"And that's saying something," Harry agreed with a grin.
"How do you want to do it then?" Draco asked, still trailing his fingers lightly over her skin and leaving a trail of tingles in his wake. "We all need to come, together, at the same time. Happily, for us, it's the mutual orgasm that fully seals the bond.
Hermione gasped as Draco dipped his hand down under the covers and slid it inside her pyjama shorts. He stroked his finger against her slick folds, and she sighed. The mere touch of his finger there was causing her blood to heat and her skin to tingle. He smiled as he slipped a finger effortlessly inside of her. "You're so turned on already, beautiful girl." He stroked his finger in and out, making her whimper as she turned her face into Harry's kiss.
Harry trailed his fingers over her nipples, then paused to slip her top off over her head and arms. She lifted herself off the bed slightly to help him, and as she moved, Draco slid his finger deeper inside her, making her moan.
"How about Draco in here," Harry asked, sliding his hand smoothly down her body. Draco took his fingers and briefly guided them through her wet heat. Harry gasped in response, pulled his hand back up and brought it to her mouth, then brushed the same finger across her lips, "and me in here?" Hermione smiled as she flicked her tongue out, tasting her own arousal on his skin. "Or is that too much at the same time, 'Mione?"
She shook her head with a smile, "not too… much at all…... sounds perfect."
Harry smiled as he moved down to kiss her body. He alternated between dragging his tongue languidly across her skin and pressing soft kisses in its wake. She closed her eyes, losing herself to the stronger than usual sensations, and lifted her hips to let Draco pull her shorts down.
Draco nudged her legs apart and paused to watch her as she closed her eyes, losing herself to the sensations that Harry was creating as he worked his sinful tongue over the smooth swell of her breasts.
She moaned softly as Draco started to kiss the apex of her thighs. He moved gradually, taking his time and watching her reaction as he finally flicked his tongue to where she wanted him the most.
Hermione felt as if she was on fire. Every lick, every nip felt far more intense than usual. She was building faster than she usually did too, and when Draco sucked her overly sensitive clit into his mouth, the shock of it caused her to jolt forwards into Harry. Her abrupt movement caused him to nip harder than he intended to with his teeth, and the sudden scorch of pain shot straight to her core, almost making her come on the spot. "Sorry," Harry whispered as he soothed the sting away with more gentle licks of his tongue.
Draco continued his unhurried ministrations, kissing and licking until she was writhing on the bed and lifting her hips in an attempt to get closer to him. He paused to reach for his wand. "Hold still, sweetheart," he said, and she felt the familiar contraceptive charm pass through her impatient body.
Draco dropped his wand, straddled her on the bed then smiled as he looked deeply into her eyes. "Ready?" he asked, and she nodded, wriggling underneath him as he lined himself up, then pressed smoothly inside her. Every little move felt incredible, every nerve in her body was more responsive than it had ever been, and the new magic in her veins was starting to pulse wildly. It stuttered and throbbed, filling her with such all consuming desire that after only two strokes from Draco, she was panting wildly and lifting herself up on her elbows, desperate to find release. He stilled his movements to watch her with a smile. "How's that feel, sweetheart?"
"It feels amazing…. please…. don't stop," she gasped as he pulled almost all the way out, then slowly pressed back inside until he was buried to the hilt once more. Her magic was flaring all around her as she tried to subconsciously pull him in faster.
"It's alright, we've got you. Just wait a minute longer," Draco said, sensing her urgency and turning his attention to Harry.
Hermione was so close to the edge that the mere feel of Draco moving inside her almost tipped her past the point of no return. She looked up into Harry's fire-bright, emerald eyes, and he smiled at her softly. "Steady, sweetheart. We all need to come at the same time, or we won't solidify the blood bond."
"Please... I can't...I need to come. Please!" she protested weakly, releasing a gasping breath as Draco stilled his soft back and forth movements to help her hold on.
"Hold on, love. We're almost there." Draco said, doubling his efforts to bring Harry closer to the edge.
"I can't! Harry…. Oh, Gods!" she tipped her head back and closed her eyes as she fought for control.
"How close are you, Draco?" Harry asked. He closed his eyes and gasped as he continued to thrust into Draco's hand.
"I'm about to lose it too," Draco admitted breathlessly. "What about you?"
Harry nodded as he pulled away and moved carefully into position. Hermione opened her mouth, and he guided himself past her lips. "I'm on the edge now too. I love you," he whispered in a strained voice, "both of you." Hermione smiled as she nodded, suddenly finding her mouth too full to answer.
"I love both of you too," Draco said from behind Harry as he started to move again. "Easy baby, not quite yet." Draco slowed his movements down yet again, and Hermione found that as she focused on Harry, her own need for release became more bearable. She hollowed her cheeks, sucking as Harry pulled back, and she felt him twitch in response.
The air was thick all around them, and she could feel the tethers of the bond pulling her closer to Harry and Draco as their bond started to seal fully, merging them tightly and permanently together.
For all his usual composure, Draco was the one who lost control first. "Oh!" he gasped, "oh, fuck! Now! Come for me now…. both of you." He snapped his hips, crying out, letting go, and thrusting into her wildly. It took no more than a few strokes before her overstimulated walls clenched tightly around him, and at the exact same moment, Harry pressed forwards into her mouth, spilling himself into her as well.
It was wholly overwhelming. The tingle in her veins increased until it felt like an electric current. She felt as if her blood was on fire. It raged and coursed through her body like lightning, and her magical core burned as it changed subtly forever. Harry pulled back to let her breathe, but she barely noticed. She gulped a mouthful of air and closed her mouth again, swallowing desperately as she felt Draco pulse deep inside of her.
She felt the exact moment that everything sealed. There was one more flash of intensity, and then the wild and uncomfortable pulsing settled into a warm glow, and she groaned in relief. Everything felt right now. For a few moments, she had felt out of control. She had understood what was happening, but it had felt too wild for her to relax and enjoy it fully. Now that everything had calmed, she was left with a feeling of deep seated satisfaction.
Harry looked as dazed as she felt. He was breathing hard as he moved back to give her space. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"
She nodded shakily as the heat in her veins settled into a much more comforting warmth. Draco tipped his head forwards, resting his forehead against Harry's shoulders as he caught his breath. "Was that explosive enough for you?" he eventually asked, lifting his flushed face to look at her over Harry's shoulder.
She closed her eyes, shivering as yet another aftershock caused more waves of now blissful heat to travel down to her core. "That was intense," she admitted, letting out a long breath of relief, "but it's settled now, and I get the feeling that the overpowering energy thing was a one off."
"That was intense for me too," Harry admitted, carefully moving back to lay on the bed beside her. Hermione was grateful for the few minutes of silence that followed. It seemed that they all needed time to fully recover and understand what had just happened.
"I think," Harry said after several long minutes, "and I really don't mean to sound arrogant when I say this, but I think we all have pretty powerful magical cores. It makes sense that binding them together like we just did would feel overwhelming. Especially for you 'Mione, you've always been the most private one of us, so it must take a lot for you to open up everything to us like that."
Draco smiled. "I think Harry's exactly right, and it doesn't sound arrogant at all. We are all powerful in our own different ways. Also, don't forget, I've got this damn thing-" he waved his left forearm, "-that's what gave the ritual itself its extra strength. Harry's had a part of Voldemort's power inside him at one stage too, when he was a Horcrux, I mean, but you haven't, Hermione. So that may have affected things for you as well. I'm sorry if it did. I didn't think of that."
"Nor did I," Harry said, looking at her in concern. "It didn't even cross my mind. Are you okay?"
She nodded. "Yes. I'm fine. I hadn't thought of those things either, but it does make sense." She smiled as she rolled over onto her stomach and stretched. "I think we'll need to try doing that again in a while," she grinned cheekily. Now that the shock of the intense feelings had settled, she felt amazing. "Just for, you know, scientific purposes. I'm sure that intense overwhelmingness was a one-off, but I think I may need several repeat performances now that I'm prepared for it, just to be sure.
Draco grinned as he ran his fingers lightly over her back in the way he knew she liked. "I don't know how the hell I ended up lucky enough to have you two," he admitted, laying down on Hermione's other side, "but, sweet Circe, you're both perfect."
"I hope it always feels like this when we touch," Hermione said, tracing the outline of Harry's dragon tattoo with her finger as Draco started to massage her back gently.
"I think that part will stay the same," Harry said. "It's always felt amazing when either of you touches me, and that goes way back before the bond too."
"I'm sure it will," Draco agreed. "I think we already had an excellent bond, but now that we've added the blood magic in, that level of closeness and intimacy has only increased. In answer to your first question Hermione, I'm pretty certain that big power surge won't be there again, so please don't worry."
It turned out that Draco was right. The weather outside was terrible, it started raining at dinner time on Saturday and carried on all through Sunday, providing the perfect excuse for them to spend the rest of the weekend in bed.
Every time they made love, the experience was just as spine-tingling as the time before, but as they had predicted, there was no repeat of the initial bond's wild intensity or disconcerting lack of control.
The thought of going back to work on Monday and facing the fallout from the ritual was an unwelcome one, and it gave Hermione further reason to squirrel herself away, letting Harry and Draco distract her in more and more imaginative ways until they all fell asleep once again.
Hermione decided that real life could be put on hold for one more day.
They had done what they had set out to do, and now she was right where she wanted to be. Whatever the future held, whatever ramifications followed their ritual and the risks they had all taken, she knew that they would face them together in the morning.
She knew that she had come a very long way in a short space of time. It had only been two months ago that her relationship with Harry and Draco had started, and yet here she was, happily blood bonded to the pair of them forever.
Everything in her world had shifted for the better. She was no longer numb or afraid of living. She had finally woken up. She was alive, she felt full of hope for the future, and most of all, she was happy with her life.
She looked to her left to where her boys lay. Draco was cuddled up to Harry, and both of them were fast asleep. She thought back to the very start of their relationship when she had thought that Harry getting together with Draco meant that she would lose him, and smiled at her naivety
She had been so convinced that Harry, and Harry alone was the key to her happiness that him growing closer to Draco had terrified her.
How wrong she had been.
By trusting Harry and opening her heart up to new ideas, she had fallen head over heels in love with both Harry and Draco.
She knew now that the happiness she currently felt had come from taking some chances in life. It had come from putting herself back out in the world and letting other people and her friends back into her heart.
Two months ago, she'd had nobody to turn to. Her world had been flat and dark. Now it was the opposite. She was blessed with two wonderful boyfriends, a fantastic group of true friends, and somehow along the way, they had managed to bring Sirius back through the veil to let him reunite with Remus.
Everything was now the way it should always have been.
Hermione sighed, then giggled as she felt both Draco and Harry reach out for her simultaneously. Their hands connected in mid-air, and Harry dropped his, smiling as he let Draco pull her closer to them both.
Who could have imagined when they were back at Hogwarts that the three of them would end up like this?
The ritual they had performed had worked in every way possible. Sirius had been brought back to life. But now, she knew that it wasn't just him that had been reborn. Now she could see the truth. It had been herself as well.
The End!