Theo slept better than he had in years. After his shower and dinner, he had thrown himself on the other bed in one of the guest rooms and fallen asleep before Neville had even come up from the dining room. He wasn't even sure if the sun had set yet. His father was gone. He never had to worry about the bastard again.
A few hours before dawn Augusta knocked on their door. "Up, boys! We have to do this before first light, Theodore," she called.
Neville roused himself, grumbling, but Theo couldn't help but be excited. It wasn't every day someone got to inherit all of their Family Magics. When they had gotten dressed in a pair of robes that Augusta had laid out for them, Theo bounded down the stairs ahead of Neville.
When they got to the kitchen, Theo noticed Lupin, Granger, and George sitting at the table. They looked up when Theo burst into the room.
"Morning, all!" he said cheerfully, taking his tea from his great-aunt. "Today the Nott Clan get's a new Patriarch!" Lupin looked a little guilty while George gave a small grin.
Granger kept looking at him as he dug into his porridge. "I'm sorry for your loss, Nott," she said softly.
Theo guffawed, which turned into a full out laugh when she saw her surprised face. "Oh no, I should be thanking our dear Professor here, killing that Son-of-a-Bitch has to be one of the greatest things he ever did!"
Granger and Lupin exchanged a look before Neville chimed in, "Theo sometimes has an odd sense of humour," he said elbowing Theo in the side, harder than necessary, "He was awful to Theo. Gran and I tried really hard to petition for him after his mum's death, but that Monster had most of the Wizenmagot in his pocket. There was no way they were going to let Theo live with us."
Theo watched as Hermione looked at the easy camaraderie between the pair. "I had no idea you two were related before yesterday," she said shocked.
"Yes well, I told dear Nev here that if my Father heard about us fraternising it wouldn't end well for me," he said cheerfully as he sipped his tea. "Dear old Dad had a lot of ideas on who I could hang around. If I would have told him I was sullying my name with Muggleborns and Blood Traitors, I wouldn't have been able to walk for a month."
She saw Augusta frown at him. "I do wish you wouldn't make light of the situation, Theodore," she tutted.
"I can't help it, Aunt Gussie, the bastard is dead. I could jump for joy if it wasn't so early and I wasn't worried about my reputation! Speaking of which," Theo reached out his hand to Lupin. "Theodore Junius Nott, the First, I must formally thank you for your service to the Nott Clan. Once I've fully inherited my Family Magic, you'll be receiving a Life Debt."
Lupin blushed but nodded, "Well if you insist," he said begrudgingly.
"So mote it be!" said Theo with a trill. A light purple flash bounced around the room.
Theo saw George nod to Granger fondly. Granger looked like she was about to bounce out of her seat, "I know we don't know each other, and if this is asking too much, please tell me to bugger off, but I'm working on my own Family Grimoire, and I, well I'd love to see how it works to have someone come into their family magic…" she trailed off blushing fiercely.
Theo raised an eyebrow at Neville, when Augusta turned to Theo, "The Magics are much stronger when they're balanced. It would help to have another female in during the Rites. Of course we can do it with the three, if you prefer."
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "Alright, Granger, let's see what we can do. I can't think of a better way to thumb my nose at my family than including a Muggleborn in the Inheritance ceremony!"
Neville chuckled from his seat as he finished his porridge while Augusta tutted indulgently at her grand-nephew. Remus and Teddy waved as they made their way into the library, while George began to clear up the kitchen, "I'll get started on the potions for the day, Mia. Take your time. I can handle this stage of the Skele Gro alone."
Theo watched curiously as she rushed off to give George a hug, he was still trying to figure out which of the Weasleys Granger was gunning for. He'd have to put more thought into this after he was done with the ritual.
Hermione
Hermione found herself following the Longbottom's and Theodore Nott into the yard. Before she went outside, Augusta handed her a robe, "Change into this, nothing underneath," she said softly. Hermione blushed but nodded, turning off into the powder room in the hall.
When she was changed she jogged out into the yard to meet the trio that was already there. Each stood at the four points of the Nyedis Rune, Theodore was at the top (Ansuz) and Neville at the bottom (Gebo), Hermione on the right (Jera) and Augusta on the left (Ælghiz).
She couldn't wait to ask them more about the runic meanings afterwards. Before she could do anything else, she watched the other two raise their arms at their sides, so she followed along. Theo held one palm over the Ansuz rune and cut across his palm. He began chanting:
Cum Familia novum caput acquirit, Magicam Matrem voco ad hanc ascensionem benedicendam. Ansuz, Gebo, Jera, et Ælghiz, juxta Nyedim. Te vocamus ad tuendas et emendandas nostrae familiae virtutes. Perho, Othalam, Hagall, et Othalam tenemus prope nos ut stirpem nostram confirment. Sic fiat fiat.
(As the Family gains a new Head, I call the Magic Mother to bless this ascension. Ansuz, Gebo, Jera, and Ælghiz, along Nyedim. We call you to protect and improve the virtues of our clan. We hold Perho, Othala, Hagall, and Othala close to ourselves so they may reinfore our lineage. So mote it be.)
His blood dripped onto his rune and lit when he said Ansuz, the magic flowed through the Nyedis toward Gebo and then Jera and Ælghiz, each lighting up with a dark purple glow. As he chanted, Hermione could feel the power of their magics and watched as her own light blue light moved toward Neville's forest green, and Augusta's vibrant yellow. She saw Augusta's eyes widen at Hermione's magic. A feeling of peace settled over Hermione as the lights began to spin together.
As suddenly as it began, it ended.
Without thinking, Hermione made her way over to Theo to heal his hand. She could feel his magic tingling against hers. Being close to him felt like coming home. A trustworthiness emanated from the man in front of her, one that she'd definitely hadn't felt before the Ritual. Normally, healing wasn't her strong suit, but at this moment, healing him barely took an ounce of her magic, it seemed like second nature.
What happened?
"Ah, Granger," he said with a chuckle, "it seems like Aunt Gussie led us astray. We seem to have some sort of connection, your magic feels… well familiar, almost like Neville or Aunt Gussie." He looked over at his great-aunt who nodded brusquely.
Hermione looked shocked. Augusta murmured "Nexus Vincula" and a series of cords sprung between them of differing colours. Bright bronze cords connected Augusta, Neville, and Theo. Light yellow cords stretched out in all directions from all of them, although most of Hermione's went back toward the house. But between Hermione and Theo a bright silver cord connected.
"Fascinating," said Augusta thoughtfully, when she saw Hermione's confused face, she directed them back into the house. Augusta sat the three young adults down and began to make tea.
"What all do you know about soul cords, Ms. Granger?"
"Hermione," she said absentmindedly. "I've never heard of them." She could barely stop the resentful thoughts of Purebloods keeping all these secrets of magic from everyone else out of her mind.
"Oh excellent!" Augusta said, clapping her hands and levitating mugs of tea to the table. "Here is a book for you to look through later, but I'll give you the brief overview."
With a wave of her wand all the cords separated."When a baby is born into a magical family they are introduced to the family magics, and begin forming bonds. There are many bonds. The light yellow you see here, are general bonds, usually friends or mentors, the brighter the cord the more important. These bronze ones signify blood relations, the brighter they are the closer they are. You see, Neville, Theodore and I are of course directly related." she pointed to the two cords stretching between her and the boys. Hermione looked at the varying degrees of brightness. She of course didn't have any bronze bonds, Muggles couldn't participate in rituals. "And these," she added pointing to the cords that led away from her and Neville, "lead toward Frank and Alice."
"This silver is more rare though." she continued, "It signifies a strong familial like connection. It has nothing to do with your blood," before Hermione could say anything else. "We're not totally sure of the origin of these silver bonds, although you can look through that book and read some of the theories. They most often come from a pair who views each other as siblings, or a parental relationship. They should be trusted as it's almost impossible to betray a Silver Soul-Bond."
Theo smirked at Hermione, who found herself rolling her eyes, "I promise to have your back just like a good brother should, Granger," he teased.
Augusta shot him a look and continued "Clearly those are the most prominent, if you look here," she pointed to a purple bond that was coming off of Theo, "this is a life debt. It takes the colour of your family magic. I believe this is the life debt that Theo has given to Remus." Hermione stood and looked closer at the cord in question.
"Can Remus see this right now?" she asked slowly.
Augusta shook her head, "No for now, we're the only four under the spell so unless Remus came into the room and we included him in the spell he wouldn't see it. Now this pink cord," she said pointing to a cord coming off of Neville that went straight into the ceiling and the light one from Hermione that went towards the infirmary, "is a romantic connection."
Augusta raised her eyebrow at her grandson. Who cleared his throat and blushed furiously. "Uh-I've been seeing Hannah Abbott, it's so new, I didn't think it would be appropriate to tell you so I…"
Augusta held up her hand and smiled at him, "You think I wasn't aware of what was going on. Ms. Abbott was 'checking' the plants a few too many times to be normal," she said with a chuckle. Theo bit back a laugh as Neville put his head down on the table. "Alright, there are many other types of cords, one for enemies, Augusta pointed out a black cord coming off her and leading West, "this one belongs to Winona McNair, we've been sworn enemies since school."
"What happens if the other half of the cord dies?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
"Well depending on the strength you can feel it sever," Theo shuddered. "In the case of a Life Debt, it is passed on to the heir, if there is no heir, it is ended." "In the case of a silver or gold bond, it can be exceptionally painful."
"A gold bond?" Hermione asked.
"Ah yes, what fairy tales are made of," said Augusta with a smirk. "Very rarely do we happen upon our golden Soulmate. I've only heard of three examples in the last hundred years. It is your perfect match in all things. Someone you're destined to spend this life and every other with."
Hermione's mind was spinning. She fiddled with the book in her hands.
Soul-bound?
"Let's leave them alone, shall we, Neville?" Augusta continued as she ended her spell. The pair walked toward the house together.
"Well I've always wanted a sister," Theo said with a chuckle.
"But we don't even know each other," Hermione said with a chuckle.
"Granger, feel the magic. What does it feel like?"
"Safe," she whispered. "It feels safe."
He grinned at her. "Time to trust the magic, then Granger. Now tell me about what you've been getting up to since the battle."
Hermione and Theo moved toward the living room and talked about all of the things they'd been up to, finding themselves debating the different spells and potions that would be most useful in wildly outrageous scenarios. When lunch was called, they made their way to the table. Theo sat next to Luna across from Hermione and George. The four of them spent the entirety of the meal discussing Arithmancy and the benefits that it had in regards to battle planning.
After the meal, Hermione went up to the Infirmary to spend some time with Ron. When she sat at his side, she gripped his hand, finding it to be clammy and warm. "Hello, Ron," she murmured. "I was part of a ritual today. I helped Theodore Nott with his Family Magic. Merlin, it was incredible. And then we found out that we have a Silver Bond! Neville's gran told me all about the different types of bonds, and well, I have another bond, a pink one. I- Well I'm sorry that nothing else happened after the Battle of Hogwarts, I wanted something to, but it never felt right, and then you took up with Parvati and I'm not one to get in your way, so here we are, I guess."
As she expected, Ron didn't wake.