A Different Sort of Bond

Disclaimer: Same as in previous chapters.

Author's Note: This has not been beta'ed yet but I wanted to share it with you sooner. If he makes any changes I'll swap this current version for his then.

Once they had chosen which island they wanted to train on November fairly flew by for the four in the VIP suite. With few distractions and eager help from Hermione all five were actually ready for the December tests by the end of November. Harry and Daphne had firmed up their plans for getting Bill's assistance with the Gaunt shack over the holidays and to Harry's relief he was no longer in the news for any reason. Neither Harry nor Daphne were perfectly content of course but both were well used to each other by now and Daphne was already planning in her head the arguments she'd use with the Deputy Headmistress to allow them to stay in the VIP suite after they were separated.

"So Daphne," Harry started one day in early December, "is there anything I should know about this Solstice Ceremony? I'd hate to do something wrong and mess up the blessing."

"Well you know everyone there will be skyclad right?" Tracey said looking up from her textbook.

"Which means naked right?" Harry said. She nodded and Harry shrugged, "I might have had a problem with it before but not after being connected to Daphne for three months. Is that it though?"

Daphne smiled at him, "I'm sure you'll be able to perform very well at the ceremony Harry. We'll just be standing there respectfully and listening to the priest or priestess."

"Well, unless you're chosen," Neville said.

"Chosen to do what?" Harry asked. He was pretty sure Daphne wasn't telling him everything. He was getting better at deciphering her expressions and right now she was hiding amusement.

Tracey hid a giggle and Neville realized that Harry knew nothing about the ritual at all. He sighed and said, "Chosen to have sex on the altar Harry."

Harry's mouth dropped open and the two Slytherin girls giggled at the look on his face. When he started getting angry Daphne quieted her laughter and apologized. "I'm sorry Harry. I shouldn't have laughed. Yes, I was keeping that part a secret but not from any malicious motives. I was hoping to get you used to the idea in stages. You just got used to nudity so I was waiting a bit to mention the rest but I would have told you soon I promise!"

Tracey added, "It's not likely to be you two anyway. There will be six couples plus Nev and me so you only have about a sixteen percent chance."

Harry snorted, "Yeah and what were the chances of my name coming out of the goblet of fire?"

That made Daphne snort, "Your chances were one hundred percent then Harry. Crouch made sure of that by entering you as the single entry from a non-existent fourth school. Whereas this will be decided by a priestess of Hecate. They take it very seriously, your fame won't be a factor. We'll all have equal chances to be the couple picked."

Harry scowled, "Well now that the cat is out of the bag and you've had your fun you can tell me everything!"

"Yes Harry," Daphne said.

Harry said, "And you're lucky I can't figure a good way to put you over my knee without spraining my shoulder or yours or you'd be getting a spanking!"

"Well you'll get your chance to try it later this month but I think you'll find it a lot harder than you seem to think it'll be," Daphne replied.

"Harder than dueling Death Eaters?" Harry asked, humor starting to displace his temper.

"Oh, much harder," Daphne replied with a smile.

"Harder than killing a thousand year old basilisk?" Harry asked, smiling now too.

Her response was, "You yourself said I was scarier than it was."

"True," he replied. "Then again I also won the Triwizard Tournament and the rewards here seem greater than a mere thousand galleons and a trophy."

Daphne snorted again, "Well I'm glad you value my ass so highly but I still think you'll fail at this challenge Harry Potter!"

"Care to make a small wager on that Daphne?" Harry said.

"No," she replied. "Our last wager ended with neither of us winning so I see no reason to make a second." Then she kissed his cheek, "Maybe if you ask really nicely I'll let you do it as my Solstice present to you."

He kissed her back, "Oh yeah? How nicely?"

She smiled, "That's for you to find out. Keep trying and I'll let you know if you succeed."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Fine, now tell me more about this ritual."

They all put away their books and Harry listened as the other described it. Afterward he asked about other holiday rituals and they described what they did for Midsummer and the Equinoxes as well as a few other observances and traditions that weren't as well or universally observed but that they'd experienced personally.

When they went to be Daphne asked, "Would you really have swatted my ass in front of Neville and Tracey?"

"Well not in front of them no," Harry said. "But I certainly would have in private!"

She surprised him by giggling, "Well I hear that it can sometimes be fun." She sobered then and asked, "So are you going to ask nicely or try and take it by force?"

Harry blushed but said, "It's supposed to be punishment not naughty! I'm trying not to lose all control here!"

"Well you did promise to consider my feelings," she reminded him. "It was a magical oath as well."

Harry sighed, "Fine. Just ease up on the sudden surprises okay? You know how much I hate them."

"Yes dear," she said. "I'm sorry." She hugged him to her and kissed him, "Forgive me?'

Harry sighed, "Yes I do."

"Good!" Daphne said. She smiled and caressed him, "Now, let's start practicing in case we are chosen."

"What?" Harry said shocked.

Daphne said, "You don't want our first time to be in front of an audience do you?"

"Of course not!" Harry said.

"Me neither," she said. "I don't want it to be awkward or fumbling. I want it to go smoothly. Therefore we need to practice it. The fun we'll have is a nice bonus as well." She looked at his face, "Harry, you can't say we don't know each other well enough. Besides being literally connected to each other we've been dating for months and I've helped rid you of the horcrux in your head. I can feel how horny you are and I'm at least that horny as well. Unless you give me a clear and logical reason not to do it I'm going to make love to you tonight."

Harry stuttered and and made various noises like "err" and "uh" but did not come up with a reason so Daphne rolled on top of him and took charge.

The next morning Daphne had a wide smile on her face until noon. Harry expected Tracey to ask what the cause was but all Tracey did was grin when she saw her best friend that morning. Hermione joined them for lunch, "I've arranged to leave early as well. It seems a shame to waste all this preparation and not take the test early along with you four and if I do then I have to leave early as well or it would look funny." She smiled, "I'm sure my folks will appreciate the extra time with me, especially since I've talked them into a cruise around the world next year that will last from mid April until the end of august."

"That's to keep them safe?" Tracey asked.

"Yes," Hermione replied. "I know things will heat up this coming year so I wanted them away for as long as possible without arousing their suspicions and this leaves me free to help Harry this summer if he needs it."

"What does Ron think of you leaving early?" Harry asked although he had a pretty good idea already.

"Oh, he thinks I'm mental," she replied. "But I was expecting that."

"So do you know when we are scheduled to be tested?" Daphne asked.

"The Monday after Slughorn's party is when the tests start," Hermione said. "We should be done with our last test by late Thursday afternoon. Professor Slughorn moved his party forward a week just so Harry would be able to attend." She reached into her large book bag, "I've got formal invites for you four with me. He handed them to me after class today." She brought out four gold engraved invitations and passed them out.

Harry groaned, "Do we have to go Daphne?"

"We've skipped all his other parties," she replied. "I haven't missed them any more than you have Harry but he moved the date to be sure we attend and he moved it to before the tests. Sluggy is a Slytherin alumnus so I doubt he did that by accident."

"You don't think he'd flunk us just for not going do you?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"No," Daphne replied. "I don't think he'd go that far but this was definitely a signal to me, as a fellow Slytherin, that he really wants us to attend. I think that we'd better go whether we want to or not."

Harry nodded, "I guess so. Are you invited Hermione?"

She nodded, "Yes, Harry. So I'll be there with you. I will be bring Ron as my date of course. Daft prat though he may be sometimes I love him."

Harry grinned, "I'm happy for you two."

The afternoon before the party Daphne dragged him in to take a second shower.

"We just took one this morning!" Harry protested.

Daphne kept dragged him by their shared hand, "You get to be awake for the start of this one, you should be happy."

Harry smiled, "Heh, okay. I'm cooperating see?" He followed her into their shared bathroom and cast the well practiced switching spell that sent their clothes to the hamper before they got in the shower.

Once they were out and dry Harry's wand got another workout making sure they were both dressed to her satisfaction. When she was finally satisfied with how they looked she grabbed a wrapped package and handed it to him, "When we first meet Sluggy you hand him this and try not to get too swept up in meeting all the VIPs who are there. I want a chance to eat and at least a few dances."

Harry grinned, "Trust me, I'll do my best to dodge as many VIPs as possible. Now let's go."

They went out into the common room of their suite where they met Ron, Hermione, Tracey and Neville, the other two couples they were going with.

"Finally!" Ron exclaimed. "I don't see why you took so long but now that you're ready let's go." Daphne snorted and saw Hermione roll her eyes but neither of them commented.

Harry smiled, "Sounds like a good idea to me."

The party was being held in a large room on the third floor. There was a seventh year student in a tuxedo checking invites at the door. Harry asked, "How did you come to be Sluggy's doorman today John?" The young man shrugged and said, "I'm here because I got detention. This might be boring but it's a lot better than scouring pots for Snape."

Harry smiled, "Very true. Here are our invites then." He handed over all of them and John opened the door for them. Inside was bright and noisy. People of all sort in bright party clothes milled around with crystal glasses chatting and laughing. Before Harry and Daphne got more than half a dozen steps inside Horace Slughorn was at their side.

"Bravo Harry!" he said. "You and your date look smashing! Let me guide to the refreshment table for a drink of punch then there are lots of people anxious to me you."

"The drink sounds fine but I want to spend some of the night dancing with my date," Harry replied as he handed over the gift they had brought. "This is from us both."

"Thank you dear boy!" Slughorn said as he lead them to a long table off to one side. "However there are a few hours yet before dinner and the dancing isn't until after that so we'll have plenty of time to introduce you to several people almost as famous and influential as you are!"

Harry pasted a smile on his face and followed. Resigned to hours of tedium and fake politeness. If he concentrated he could feel that Daphne felt the same way. Ron was dragged Hermione in the direction of a group of Quidditch team captains and Tracey was trying not to look as if she was dragging Neville towards her father. When the reached the wall they saw two tables, one with a punch bowl and several bottles and behind it was another seventh year student.

"Hiya Harry," Cho said. "I'm getting extra potions credit for keeping the punch unspiked. Can I pour you a cup?" Her face didn't look as cheery as her words but Harry was just happy she wasn't crying. He was about to accept when Argus Filch dragged a student in by the ear.

"Arr! Perfesser, I caught this young hellcat in t'other room with a bottle in 'er hands," he started. "I took it from 'er and asked to see 'er invite but she don't have none so I brought her to you. You want me to just throw 'er out or should I get," he paused to grin viciously, "creative about 'er punishment?"

Harry and Slughorn turned at the same time to see Astoria Greengrass struggling in Filch's grip. Daphne looked over shoulder and groaned, "Oh Merlin Astoria, what are you up to now?"

The younger girl looked furious, "I was just trying to leave a Yule present! This squib has no business touching me much less manhandling me like this!" She glared up at the much taller caretaker, "If my father knew he have you horsewhipped!"

Daphne rolled her eyes, "Tori, he's on staff here so yes he does have the right. And as for father if he heard you'd been out breaking into parties and causing a scene it's you that he'd be angry at."

Horace Slughorn grinned as soon as he heard that and gestured for Filch to let the girl go, "Well now Mr. Filch it is almost Yule. I think we can dredge up enough holiday spirit to be lenient this time. I'm sure the young lady just wanted to join her older sibling for the party. Everyone loves my parties! Isn't that right my dear?" Without waiting for an answer he turned to look at Daphne, "I'm sure her sister will be willing to chaperone her for the rest of the evening."

"Of course professor," Daphne said with a fake smile.

"Wonderful," Slughorn said. He took the bottle from Filch's hand, "You say this was your gift?" He examined it carefully, "My word! This brandy was bottled a hundred and fifty years ago!" He turned to Cho and said, "Four glasses please." Turning back to Filch he said, "I hope you'll join us Argus?" To Astoria he said, "You are a bit too young for this libation young lady but I do thank you most sincerely for it!"

"Aren't we too young as well?" Harry asked.

Slughorn laughed jovially, "No my boy, certainly not! The lovely lady and yourself are old enough for a glass of brandy." He deftly removed the wax covered cork of the dusty bottle and poured a generous amount into each cup as Cho handed it to him. He handed it around and was about to make a toast when Filch drank his whole glass in one gulp.

As Slughorn frowned and started to comment Filch gasped and clutched at his throat. Slughorn immediately vanished the other glasses then crouched down and forced a bezoar down the throat of Argus Filch. It didn't help unfortunately and the man soon died.

Astoria slipped away during the commotion and triggered the portkey her father had given her. It's presence was why she was given the task. She had a means of escape that the school wards did not block. She had been asked kill Dumbledore but told herself that Filch was also a good target. At least she hoped he was because the dark lord was unkind to those who failed him. She was going to floo to Malfoy Manor to report when she looked around and suddenly realized she wasn't home. She was at some construction site and it was freezing! She stared at her portkey in shock and eventually realized it had been switched for one that only mostly resembled it. "Where in the name of Merlin am I?"

Back at the party chaos had ensued. All students save Harry and Daphne were sent back to their rooms. Slughorn and Snape agreed it was basilisk venom in the brandy.

"Immediately lethal to all but these two," Slughorn said as he gestured to the joined couple, "and sadly a bezoar is no use against it."

Snape was heard to mutter that it was Potter's fault but he said that so often that nobody paid any attention.

The name on the card attached to the bottle with pink ribbon was Dumbledore's but only Slughorn knew that. He later told Albus who swore him to secrecy. Albus also forbade the expulsion of the younger Greengrass and was unhappy when he learned she'd portkeyed away.

"I was hoping to talk to her and turn her away from such foolishness in the future," Dumbledore said. He turned to Daphne, "Please do not mention any part of this incident to your parents my dear and if you see your sister tell her she still has a place here next semester."

Daphne agreed with a smile even though she wasn't planning on following through on either request.

Harry was assuming it had been an attempt on his life and was feeling guilty and not saying anything to anyone.

The conjoined couple were sent to their room and the adult staff remained to discuss matters.

Once beyond earshot Daphne said, "I know what you are thinking Potter, and it wasn't your fault! "

"It was probably meant for me," Harry replied miserably.

"No," she refuted. "Astoria knows we are both immune to all poisons. She was trying to kill somebody else and I doubt it was Filch." Daphne frowned, "She's probably trying to report to them."

Harry looked worried now instead of guilty, "Then I hope it was Filch she was supposed to kill because otherwise Riddle will consider it a failure and punish her."

Daphne looked sad and worried but she shook her head, "Not unless she's even stupider than I think. I switched her portkey with one of ours. She's currently freezing her ass off on your island in northern Canada."

"Wow," Harry said. "I am always amazed by your forethought Daphne. If we can reach a floo fast enough we can get in touch with the goblins and make sure they keep both safe and over there. That way we can be sure of her not working against us but she'll be alive and healthy and you'll even get your chance to ask her some questions."

Daphne smiled at that and took off at a run pulling him behind her, "Let's be off then and get to that fireplace!"

Soon they had passed the info to the goblins. The goblins had already captured her and promised to keep her with them and unharmed. He turned to Daphne, "I think that's as much as we can do right now. Do you want to floo your folks?"

She considered that then shook her head, "No, not until I know more. The Deputy Head probably sent an official warning letter anyway. Once we hear more from any source then we'll have more information and can pass that along."

Harry yawned, "In that case let's try and get some sleep."