Once again the disclaimer: I bow in awe of J.K. Rowling genius. All characters and things in the Harry Potter world are hers. Please do not sue me. I make no money and you would undoubted piss readers off if you delay in continuing the saga as we anxiously await your next book. I have cited other fan fiction articles which have inspired me to incorporate their ideas in this story as well. I encourage you to read them. Please read and review. Thanks~ Leyna
Chapter 10: Sealed Secrets
Hermione started the next semester fresh, and tried to avoid crowds in order to shield herself from the thoughts of her classmates and teachers. Eventually she mastered it, and she and Harry grew closer still as he helped her to forget the emotions, desires and secrets she held. She grew into greater understanding of the complexity of her classmates such as Seamus, Neville and even Draco Malfoy. Draco though cruel, had his own sense of honor, and moral flexibility as he sat on the fence, deciding his future one decision at a time.
She read her mother's journal carefully, and quietly wept for what would be several difficult and lonely years ahead. She used the pent up energy to study elemental magic. That was what had caught her attention in Flourish and Blotts. That was the key to the study of wandless magic, of the power one woman had against a gathering of Death Eaters in her first dream.
Hermione began spending a lot of time outside walking the grounds. She kept thinking on the techniques taught to her by Professor Snape: forms of mediation that will promote awareness and connectedness…Connected.
One day, she decided to slip off her shoes. The ground was moist from a previous rain and dirt pushed through the grass to the soles of her feet. She had been barefoot in the dream. She freed her hair from it's clasp in an experiment, a recreation of her first vision. She remembered her feelings of certainty, of powerfulness, and clarity. She closed her eyes, meditated—and connected. She thought she felt the ground vibrate beneath her feet. The incantation. What had she said?
She sought after Harry following her contemplation of what it meant to "connect" in the context of elemental magic. The Gryffindor common room was empty, all of the students had already fled the school on a Hogsmeade weekend.
"Harry?" She called up to his room.
"Hey Hermione! No one's up here, come on up!" She joined him and sat on the edge of his bed. "What's up? Ron and I were just about to go to Honeydukes. Want to come? If it's ok with McGonagall."
"Sure, but I have something I wanted to talk to you about first. When's Ron coming?" Her eyes darted around, needing some time alone with Harry.
"Not for a while, he's trying to get up the nerve to ask Padma Patil to come with us."
Again? After their first Yule Ball, Patil would've probably given up on Ron. "That is going to be a while. I thought she was dating Zach?"
He shrugged.
"Let's go somewhere more private. I have a proposition for you." If Harry didn't know Hermione better he would've been sweating at her choice of words.
The Room of Requirement was the most often sought out meeting place, very few students knew of it and most were in Hogsmeade anyway. Hermione sat with Harry on a bench large enough for two. They sat facing each other as Hermione explained what she had in mind.
"Harry," she began. "You've been such a good friend. I'm sorry I haven't been able to share everything with you." He looked at her listening intently with concern for his friend. "You're like family to me. I haven't been able to talk with anyone about this stuff, including my parents. Before the school semester, mom told me I was adopted."
"Oh, 'Mione. You…you're not really Muggleborn are you?" he asked, digressing. It was never really important to him, he was Muggle born himself. But she was such a powerful witch, maybe she was pureblooded after all.
"Still part Muggle...of sorts. My biological family are gone though." She sighed.
Welcome to the club. Harry's face was downcast.
"I've been reading up a lot lately on family and bonding. And, I wondered…" she searched for the right words. "I love you. You're like family to me Harry. You're my magical family. We keep each others secrets. You've stuck by me and didn't press. I just wanted to…well, y'know…make it more permanent." She looked up inquisitively, hopefully at her dear friend.
"You mean bonding! Wow, I don't know what to say." Then he did. "You are like a sister to me too, Hermione." He had consented. "What does this involve?"
Hermione pulled a flat yellow cord from her robes. "Being magically related has certain advantages. Let me have your right hand. And we wrap this around our joined hands, like so."
"Aren't there supposed to be witnesses or someone presiding?"
She tried to avoid rolling her eyes. "Not in this case. We're going to be bonded as sister and brother, not as husband and wife. This is a secret so it can be performed just by us. And the 'secret' part, is very important. We should never tell anyone, except maybe the person we marry whenever that is. Ok, now hold your end of the tie."
They each took an end. Harry and Hermione focused on each other and strong friendship which had so deepened that the word friendship could no longer adequately describe their bond.
"I bind myself to you, my brother, my kin. In you I find my grounding and safety."
Harry echoed, "I bind myself to you, my sister, my kin. In you I find good counsel and safety." The cord glowed and they felt rings slide off of the end of the golden bind. They each took their ring and placed it on a right finger of their choosing. Hermione placed hers on her right thumb. It was a snug fit. It warmed her finger and she and Harry smiled at each other. The ceremony was complete, and they embraced. They were connected.
The pair left arm in arm to find a somewhat disappointed Ron. Patil had plans for Hogsmeade, but made a date with him later in the week. Ron beamed when discussing it. Before they left, per Dumbledore's express instructions, Hermione ran to tell Professor McGonagall about her plans. Their relationship had much improved since her heartfelt apology.
Walking toward Hogsmeade, Hermione resolved to take control of her own future. As her visions continued she began keeping a journal like her mother. When she dreamed of the mist, she made a decision. The owl Liam had promised arrived and she hid it in her closet. It was a beautiful chocolate colored owl, small, and calm. He was also sweet and spunky. She named him Cacao.
On Valentine's Day, Severus received a first—a package from an anonymous individual on loathed holiday he preferred to forget. Delivered through the dungeon window, the gift was wrapped in deep forest green. He smiled at the choice of paper. No pink, he didn't do pink. An extremely unique gold wax seal was the only signature. He was taken aback at the first one, completely unmarked, it could have been dangerous.
He took it to Professor Flitwick unopened who certified it was free of charms and other magic. Reluctantly, Snape opened it, leaning back lest it explode. He didn't receive presents, and he wasn't accustomed to being noticed or recognized in any way. It was chocolate. Specifically—bittersweet dark chocolate made especially for Honeydukes once a year only. His most desired favorite. Strange. He investigated this detail with the owner of the shop but was unable to trace the order. He had a payment with a request for that chocolate specifically by an anonymous owl. There was no name given.
Severus Snape was a typically tense man during the school year, particularly during a holiday such as this one. But as the lifted the black sugary substance to his lips, melting in the recesses of his mouth, all bitterness drained from the sour professor, leaving behind a rather exultant and liquefied Potions Master. Instead of grading, he spent the afternoon pondering which potions he felt compared to the marvelous bliss of Godiva-inspired ecstasy, none he came up with were legal.
Hermione and Harry were pretty tight and chummed around a lot over the year. A rumor had started to circulate that they were an item. They laughed at the notion, but neither refuted it. Neither of them wanted to date. Harry wasn't good at letting himself get close to anyone especially after Sirius's death, even still he felt he attracted danger to those he cared for and he was becoming pretty jaded.
And Hermione, well, she had other obligations.
Author's Notes :
**** The concept of connecting with another thorough a magical object that bonds two people is inspired from an excellent fanfic I recently read and recommend, though it is for a mature audience. Contemplations of Birth by Saavik13 is posted on the www.designerpotions.com website and www.fanfiction.com