A Different Sort of Bond

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Potterverse!

Author's Note: It took me a very long time to get this right. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Second Author's Note: Edited as of 05/28/2016 and a fairly large change was made.

Chapter 26

The morning of the second of January dawned clear and cold. "Are you upset at missing the bachelor party Harry?" Daphne asked and she sat at her vanity table adding a few last touches to her hair and makeup.

"No dear," Harry replied. "It was only logical. Since we can't even be in separate rooms then we couldn't attend both the bachelor party and the bridal shower. Ron insisted that the bachelor party be all blokes so that meant neither of us could go." He shrugged and straightened his bow-tie in the mirror, "I'm sure I didn't miss much."

"Did you know that Tracey considered switching places with Neville to see who noticed?" Daphne said.

"Really?" Harry said. "I doubt Neville would have gone along. He's a very straightforward bloke."

Daphne nodded, "She couldn't get him to agree so we had the real Tracey with us on New Year's Eve. And the real Neville was drinking with Ron, Seamus, and Dean and watching a stripper."

Harry smirked, "I wonder what she thought of him looking like Tracey?"

Daphne smirked back, "Apparently she was only mildly surprised. It makes me wonder if she gets hired by women a lot."

Harry chuckled, "I wouldn't be much surprised if she was hired by women sometimes but I doubt it was a lot."

Daphne looked at Harry, "Do you want a stripper at your Bachelor Party?"

Harry smiled, "Why? You'll be the prettiest woman there regardless." He chuckled, "Unless you'd like one?"

She shrugged, "I wouldn't mind. I hear they are quite talented dancers in addition to being sexy. But we'll have to discuss it later, it's time to join the wedding party."

Since Daphne and Harry couldn't separate they would both head to the chapel and the bridal party would enter without the maid of honor. Neville came in next in his specially tailored tuxedo.

"I'm glad Tracey agreed to a small wedding," Neville said. "I feel ridiculous at being a pregnant groom in a tuxedo."

Harry said, "You look fine Nev. A little nervousness is natural."

Daphne said, "That's why we're using a priestess of Hecate Neville. She won't care what you look like or if you're pregnant. She only wants to be sure you're both here of your own free will and that you love each other."

"That's right," the priestess said as she entered the chapel from a door behind the altar. "When I ask you those questions, in this place, during the wedding ritual, you will be compelled to answer truthfully. If you are having any second thoughts or cold feet tell me now before we start. It's less messy that way."

Neville shook his head, "No, I am here because I want to be and I do love her. I do not want to back out. I just wish I was in my right body for the ceremony."

"Good," the priestess said. "Then it's time." She nodded to the organist who started to play the music that had been agreed on.

"Hey Harry?" Neville asked. "Remind why we ever thought Toccata and Fugue in D minor was good for a wedding?"

Harry shrugged, "I don't know Nev. I wasn't there at the time but I have to say that at least one of you has a warped sense of humor."

As the distinctly creepy strains of the Bach masterpiece sounded through the house of worship on the Davis estate the bridesmaids entered and took their places by Daphne. Then the doors opened again and the bride entered. The innocent look of her white lacy dress was somewhat marred by her visibly pregnant belly but she looked radiantly beautiful as she walked up the aisle.

Tracey's father got up from his seat and escorted her to the altar. He kissed her cheek through the veil and went back to his seat.

The priestess raised her hands and invoked the goddess Hecate, "Oh great goddess of magic, our patron and defender, we are gathered here in your temple today to unite this couple forever more in a holy union." She turned to Neville, "Do you Neville Longbottom swear to be true to Tracey Davis in good times and in bad for all the rest of your life?"

"I do," he said.

The priestess turned to Tracey, "Do you Tracey Davis swear to be true to Neville Longbottom in good times and in bad for all the rest of your life?"

"I do," she replied.

The wedding had come off without a hitch but death eaters attacked during the reception.

"We need to get the noncombatants away from here!" Harry said. "Then we can concentrate on fighting."

"I should have insisted on someplace other than our estate for the wedding reception," Daphne said. "A few extra wards and hired wands were clearly not enough."

"It's not your fault dear," Harry said as he rushed to the breach in the wards to start fighting and protect the others.

Daphne ran with him and pulled her wand. "If we can hold them off for a bit I'm sure Tracey will get them to safety."

As the enemy poured through the narrow breach in the estate's defenses Harry started casting stunners, not because he was overly worried about the health of people who would attack a wedding reception but it was a spell he knew very well so he could cast it silently and quickly. Most of the death eaters he hit went down. Daphne cast at the ones who remained upright. Her spells were not as benign but were still nicer than the killing curses the attackers were casting with abandon.

Daphne had to spend some of her time conjuring stone shields to protect her and Harry but their opponents either weren't bothering to aim or were simply bad at it so it wasn't hard for her to protect them both. If there hadn't been dozens of death eaters the attack would have failed. As it was more kept rushing in to take the place of those who fell. Daphne switched to gruesomely lethal spells in the hopes of discouraging new arrivals but seeing their comrades fall to fire, acid, or evisceration didn't seem to deter the others.

Both Daphne and Harry were starting to wonder if there was any end to the attackers when Neville and Tracey walked up behind them. "Everyone else has escaped Harry. However we used our honeymoon portkey to send the last of them. If you can accommodate on yours we can all go and leave these idiots to the aurors whenever they finally show up."

Harry nodded, "Sounds like a plan mate. I'm just sorry you won't have a proper honeymoon." He threw his power into a storm spell and knocked the nearest attackers off their feet with a combination of wind and driving hail. As he pulled out their portkey he said to Daphne, "Once we get there remind me to alert Spell Dodger to speed up our plans."

"I will," Daphne agreed.

Everyone put a hand on the portkey and Harry triggered it and the four of them vanished in a burst of light.

They appeared in a very warm foyer with the rest of the students they had planned on bringing. Along with Harry, Daphne, Neville, and Tracey there was Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Susan, Hannah Abbott and there to greet them was a grinning goblin.

Daphne started unbuttoning her thick woolen robe, "I'm pleased to see you Spell Dodger. We need to accelerate our plans by months. I'm particularly glad this place was ready so early as I think we're here for the duration." She removed the robe entirely and started removing her high heels, "One question though. Why is it so warm?"

Spell Dodger lost his smile, "I am happy to say that we are ready for habitation here and I believe we can manage to effect your design and bring in the teachers within a week if they are willing. All provisions and other materials are present. If your question can wait I will set in motion the rest right away."

Harry nodded and spoke, "That's fine Spell Dodger. I wish we could have given you proper notice but we were attacked by a veritable army of death eaters at the reception. We held them off long enough for everyone to get away but I doubt anywhere in Great Britain will be safe for us until we can kick Riddle's ass for good."

The goblin nodded, "I'll be off to set things in motion then." He gestured to a door on their right, "This way to the inside of the mansion. The other door leads outside and it is currently -27 out there and snowing." With that the goblin opened the inside door and lead them into a large vaulted hallway. Once inside he ran off shouting in his native language.

Sweating now Harry removed his winter robes as well, "I guess we can find a good place to sit and strip off some layers while we wait for someone to give us the grand tour?"

Hermione snorted, "I'd think you planned it if it wasn't such a serious situation. As it is I think that's an excellent plan but I'll be keeping as much on as I can stand to wear."

Daphne passed Harry her robes and shoes and took off her sweater, showing she had nothing under it but a well filled bra.

Tracey laughed as she unbuttoned her robes, "I think you'll just have to get used to it Hermione. I doubt we'll spend much time dressed if it stays this hot in here. And after hearing about how complicated the environmental spells on this place are I wouldn't hold out much hope of that changing anytime soon."

Hermione smacked her forehead, "Well I won't complain because she's made herself comfortable but I won't necessarily follow suit."

"You've said that before," Tracey said. "If I remember properly though you're theoretically in favor of it. Right?"

Hermione blushed, "You may have a point but even if you do that's no reason to make myself uncomfortable in an attempt to get comfortable."

'Well, I can't argue that," Tracey said.

Ginny had taken off her outer robes but stopped there, "I think I'll wait to take off any more even if I am sure I will eventually."

Daphne frowned, "I'll not take anything else off for now if it might bother people but you're as pureblooded as I am Ginny. I'm surprised to find you unused to this."

"It's our mum," Ginny said. "She has rather Victorian standards of modesty and made sure we didn't get any of the more modern attitudes about modesty even though she tries to be modern otherwise. Which is funny to me considering she was pregnant with Bill when she got married and has more kids than any other family I know."

"Well, I hope you can rise above it," Daphne said. "I don't want you feeling miserable and possibly fainting from the heat."

Ginny replied, "Oh I can at least assure you that I won't take it that far. If Ron had taken this portkey instead of the other one you'd have more of a problem with him but I can be very practical when needed."

Hermione asked, "You saw him take the other portkey?"

Ginny nodded, "Yes, he's safe in the south Pacific along with Dean. He is, or rather was my boyfriend but I doubt he'll wait for me."

"How could he not?" Neville said. "As beautiful you are?"

Ginny smiled at him, "Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

Neville nodded, "Yes, I do."

Luna said, "He did invite you to the Yule Ball."

Harry interrupted to say, "I found a nearby room where we can all sit. Let's go there and at least get off our feet while we talk."