I think I'm going to start posting this one, because I'm more excited about my other WIPs at the moment and I have almost 30 Chapters of this written (and am almost to the end (I think)). I'm going to make it a Wednesday post schedule I think (mostly cause none of the WIPs I read are being posted on Wednesdays). If you're interested in Alpha/Beta reading for this (or any of my other stuff) let me know!

Monday, August 2, 1999

Hermione

The next morning, Harry had joined them in the kitchen for their early morning ritual. He sat next to Hermione as they talked about the ritual from yesterday. "It was so interesting, Harry!" Hermione said with a grin. "And then when we were done, Neville's gran showed me this fascinating spell that shows all the bonds we have with everyone. Here, let me show you! Nexus Vincula!" the web of cords sprang out from both Hermione and Harry, she'd included Remus and George so that she could show a wider range of bonds.

"This one is obviously you and I," she said pointing to a bright yellow cord, "the brightness shows how close we are. And this one is you and Remus," she pointed to a light copper cord with a raised eyebrow at Remus.

"The pack bond," he said fondly.

"Fascinating!" she said with a grin, "and this Silver Cord is Theo, it means like a Soul Sibling, they're quite rare. This one," she said pointing to the pink cord going from Harry, "must be Ginny," she looked up to see him blush and then looked down again.

There was no pink cord.

"What?" Harry said abruptly.

"Did-Did I say that out loud?" she stuttered finally looking up at the man across from her.

"What about a pink cord, 'mione?" he said, blinking at her.

"There was a pink cord yesterday, Harry. It went to Ron. What about Ron-" she bolted from her seat and sprinted to the Infirmary, she heard Harry, George, and Remus racing behind her.

When she got to the door, Theo was standing, talking to Madam Pomfrey, and she saw Ginny sitting next to Ron's bed with a look of absolute emptiness on her face. "He's gone," she whispered.

Hermione felt her knees buckle, but she didn't remember hitting the ground..

Hermione sat on the floor of the safehouse with the rest of the group. She had already gone out in their game of Exploding Snap, but was enjoying the laughter that was coming from the group. On that turn, Ron went out, leaving only Harry and Luna still playing.

When Ron sat next to her she reached over and grabbed his hand. She looked up at his surprised face. She stood and led him to the garden out back. They stood over her fluxweed, Ron toeing the ground while Hermione bit her lip.

"I think I have to apologise, Ron. I've been…distant. It's just… It's been really hard. I feel like we've failed and George is so broken. I-" she let out a sob.

Ron pulled her into his arms and she let herself cry like she hadn't since Shell Cottage. "It's okay, 'mione. I mean I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but I wouldn't want to rush you. I mean you're my best friend, 'mione, but I've always thought we were destined for more, didn't you?" when she nodded he continued, "I know I'm not perfect, but I think you need to let me in a bit. I'd like to think I have at least a tablespoon's worth of Emotional Range," they softly chuckled. "I guess what I'm really saying is that I wish you would let me be there for you."

"I can try," she said looking up into his bright blue eyes. She stood on her toes and kissed him softly. When she felt his arms tighten around her she felt safe for the first time in a long time.

Theo

Theo caught Hermione just before she hit the floor. He lifted her up bridal style and carried her to one of the cots in the infirmary. When he had her comfortably laying down, he pulled out his wand, "Rennerverate," he said softly.

She shot up on the bed and began weeping. She threw her arms around Theo and cried on his shoulder. Theo, not having the most experience with comforting others, just, patted her back awkwardly.

"He just- it was only a dream!" she sobbed. She looked up at him in a way that was painful to witness. "We were supposed to be together!" Theo figured it was better not to say anything to her than to stumble over his words and say something foolish.

He continued to hold her, until he saw Molly bustle into the room. The tray she was holding crashed to the floor. George ran over to her and helped her to the seat next to Weasley's bed. Molly Weasley began to utter a keening noise that made even Theo tear up a bit. Various Order members came from all over the house to see what all the noise was. When Arthur saw, he came over to his wife and held her close.

Harry stood in the doorway, looking pale. "It's my fault," he murmured.

Theo quietly scoffed at that. Leave it to Potter to make someone's death about himself. For all the praises that were lauded upon the Boy Who Lived, Theo couldn't help but think he needed to drag his head out of his own arse. He wanted to leave the infirmary, he knew he didn't belong here, but Hermione was gripping his hand tightly.

When she finally released him, Theo went to Shacklebolt and Lupin, who were standing together. "What can I do?" he asked.

The two men looked at each other. "Why don't you work on the Skele-Gro that was on Hermione and George's docket for today?" Shacklebolt said.

Theo made his way to the bathroom where he rinsed his face and adjusted his light brown waves. He noticed the stubble that had started to appear on his face and cast a quick shaving spell. Feeling satisfied with his appearance, he left the bathroom and made his way to the lab.

When he opened the door, he found Hermione standing over the potions bench, staring blankly into space. Her hair was thrown into a bun on the very top of her head, and she chewed on her nails anxiously. She looked worse for wear, with puffy cheeks and red eyes.

"Granger," he said softly. She jumped and looked up at him. "Why don't you sit, I'll work on the Skele-Gro."

She nodded mutely at him and sat heavily at the desk. This was the first time that Theo had been invited into the mysterious potions lab, so he took in his surroundings before he got to work. On the far wall, a chart was seemingly painted onto the wall. It seemed to keep track of everything they'd been working on. The first section was their current list of potions:

- 5/20 Veritaserum

- 15/25 Mandrake Restorative Draught

- 50/50 Skele-Gro

- 43/50 Pepperup

- 50/150 Wound-Cleaning Potion

- 30/50 Dreamless Sleep

- 4/25 Essence of Dittany

- 53/100 Blood Replenishing

- 37/100 Calming Draught

- 75/100 Antidote to Common Poisons

- 0/100 Wiggenweld Potion

- 47/100 Burn-Healing Paste

He was impressed at their work, they'd definitely been busy. So many potions in such a short time.

The list of ingredients was less robust than he thought it would be.

- Aconite

- Bezoars

- Dittany

- Flobberworm Mucus

- Infusion of Wormwood

- Jobberknoll Feather

- Lavender

- Mandrake

- Moly

- Nightshade

- Syrup of Hellebore

- Valerian

"They automatically update," she mumbed when she saw him looking at the wall.

"Impressive Magic, Granger," he praised. He turned toward her and saw her head resting on a stack of Grimoires on the desk. A medium sized chalkboard was next to her that had different materials and their properties listed.

Seeing that she was deep in thought, he looked to the bench in front of him. The ingredients were all laid out perfectly. He began to follow the steps, with their adjustments, listed in the book in front of him.

When she hadn't spoken for close to twenty minutes, he started talking.

"When I was a kid, every Saturday my Mum would tell my Father that we were going out for a playdate with Narcissa Malfoy, even though we weren't. You see, her and Narcissa were the very best of friends, both knew how important family was, even if Narcissa never made peace with Andromeda. We would go to visit Aunt Gussie so that Neville and I could play. When I was 8, my bastard of a Father, pushed my mum down the stairs. Needless to say, the play dates with Neville stopped, but Narcissa never let me stay alone. She still made sure to pick me up every Saturday and heal whatever aches and pains I had that week, making sure to keep the physical manifestation present. Draco was different growing up-"

Hermione scoffed. He smirked, finally something from her. "He was, Granger. Lucius was from an older set, like my father. The child rearing was left to the mother's until you were nine or ten, then you started having lessons with your father." Theo shuddered. "Mine started early, of course. Thoros Nott, was not a kind man, Granger, I'm sure you've gathered that. Lucius wasn't aggressive in the way that my Father was, but he has a way with words. He'd convinced Draco that he was above everyone else within weeks. He'd taught him all sorts of nasty words. Most of Narcissa's careful training seemed to be wiped away."

She looked up at him finally, "I was sorry to hear about her death," she said softly.

"She was the best person I ever knew," he agreed with a sad smile. "When he found out what she'd done, he tortured her until she gave up. Lucius went insane. They were one of the very rare Soulmates. The Malfoys are lucky like that. He snapped. He-" he choked, "He was inconsolable, he tried to bury himself with her. Last month, Draco had mucked something up again, and his own father tortured him until he died, Granger. My best friend. I was supposed to be Marked that night, you know. Draco just told me to hide and he'd take the brunt of my punishment, but Lucius didn't stop. I was there, under a disillusionment spell, and I know Draco knew I was and he made it very clear that I was to get out while I still could, so I-" he choked out a sob.

"I regret leaving him behind, Granger. I should have saved him, I should have at least taken his body, but I didn't. I just left him there. But I knew I couldn't waste his sacrifice, he gave me the chance to escape to Nev and Aunt Gussie." Hermione was blinking at him through renewed tears.

"It's- It's not your fault," she was standing at her desk now.

"I just, Draco was my soul-bound brother, Granger. The brightest silver cord you'd ever see. I've never felt anything like when the bond was severed, it was excruciating. I-I'm so grateful for Nev and his Gran. I'm not sure I would have survived without them, I don't think I could do that again, Granger."

Hermione sniffled and shuffled over. "Are you saying that you don't want me to die, Nott?"

He barked out a laugh, "I think we can dispense with formalities, you can call me Theo. Now that I've found you, you'd better not. I'll have to chase you through time to kill you again," he said quietly.

She smiled softly at him. "Thank you for telling me, Theo. I suppose it reminds me that everyone has some good and bad in them. I just. I can't believe that I'm expected to just pick up and carry on. I- I'm not sure what to do, we'd just-" her voice broke off again in a sob, "but maybe we can do it together?"

He wrapped his arms around her again, "I'd like that, Granger.

She snorted softly. "Please call me Hermione, or well you can call me Mia if you want, my parents and George are the only people who do, but well Silver Bond and all that," she said with a shrug.

He grinned, "Mia it is, so tell me a little about your Grimoire plans…"

So... Ron... Sorry? But also here's our first introduction to Draco (even if he's not actually well alive...)

I'll see you next Wednesday!