Author's note: I originally had called this story War of the Worlds, and the more of this story I write, the more I want to call it that, so I decided to change it back to the original name. I know it took me forever to update, but I ran into a wall with my writing. I feel like I am past it now though, so here I go. Hope you enjoy, Please read and review, It only takes a second and really helps.

Chapter 9: Souliaria Bindus

Rayne awoke the next morning. She looked over at Harry who was starring straight back at her.

"Harry, are you OK?" she asked in a sleepy yet confused voice.

"Yes, I was just watching you sleep. You look like an innocent angel just sleeping there." He embellished.

"I am any thing but innocent", she laughed at him.

"Prove it," he said mischievously.

Grabbing her and pulling her towards him. He kissed her so deeply; she almost thought it was passionate. She realized when he finally let her up that she was out of breath.

"Well, Good Morning to you too." She said still in shock. "What was that for?"

"For saving me in more ways than you know." Harry said looking in her eyes.

"You're welcome." She said happily as she began to get ready for the day.

Today was their first duel in DADA.

"Who do you think you will get paired up with?" Rayne asked him.

"No offense, but hopefully NOT you." Harry said remembering Divination class.

Rayne started laughing.

They headed down to breakfast and then their DADA class.

"It is too early to get beat up" Neville came up behind them whining.

"Neville, you have an advantage over practically the entire class, why are you worried?" Harry asked him.

"Because, with my luck, I will have to go against you." He said solemnly.

When they got to class, Professor Hoppytoad waved his wand and two dueling platforms appeared in the middle of the room.

"Today's class will be held like a tournament," he said, "the winners will compete at the end of the tournament and the two finalists get an A. The winner of the whole thing gets a NEWT."

He posted a parchment on the wall with the names of the pairs competing against each other first.

Rayne stepped up to the parchment and started reading

First duels

Harry Potter and Blaise Zambini.

Rayne Solara and Lavender Brown.

Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy

Phoenix Darklighter and Dean Thomas

Pansy Parkinson and Seamus Finnegan

Those were the pairs that were scheduled for this first class. The rest would go next time as the time each duel would take would likely fill the class time.

Harry won easily over Blaise, who was a lot more talk than action. Rayne knew she had the advantage and won easily over Lavender using basic spells.

Neville actually beat Draco, who was busy making fun of Neville's parent's, and never saw the hex coming at him. Pansy beat Seamus, using a few of the dirty tricks the Slytherin's were famous for. Phoenix massacred Dean, who by the end of the duel was looking an awful lot like he had a run in with an entire street gang.

Rayne had watched Phoenix's fight carefully. She noticed that he was using very basic spells to defeat his opponents, which was very unlike him. He enjoyed overpowering and destroying everything he came in contact with. She was concerned at his sudden change in style. This was not good. He was hiding something.

Phoenix knew Rayne was watching him. He knew his style would confuse her. She wasn't used to him fighting fair, which is what made his plan so perfect. He would make sure she had no idea what to expect. He had already sent out the word that he was back. He knew that Voldemort's followers were planning to desert him as soon as they even whispered his name. He was gathering an army and would shortly have enough wizards under his control to take over the wizarding world. Voldemort may be evil, but Phoenix knew he was nothing without his followers.

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Later that evening Phoenix caught up with Draco. He had cornered him in the Slytherin common room. He grabbed Draco by the collar, lifted him off the ground, and held him against the common room wall.

"I have found the perfect girl for you. Ginny Weasley. She knows Harry and his friends and they will definitely confide in her. Voldemort was able to control her using a book during her first year. Her mind is weak to mind control. She will tell us everything she knows." Phoenix informed him.

"Why on earth would I be seen in public with a Weasley. My reputation will be ruined. My family will disown me." Draco hissed.

"I don't believe I gave you a choice. You will stop your incessant whining and bitching and do it." Phoenix said nonchalantly.

"Make me." Draco said.

Phoenix dropped Draco to the ground, pulled out his wand and said "Crucio"

Draco fell to the floor screaming and writhing in pain.

"You will start dating her tomorrow." Phoenix sneered.

With that he turned and walked out of the room leaving Draco still writhing on the floor.

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The rest of the day was fairly boring. Harry and Rayne snuck off at night to start practicing fighting skills. They set up a daily routine, and followed it religiously. Harry was thrilled because Rayne had worked it around his Quidditch schedule.

When the Christmas Holidays finally came around, Harry and Rayne knew that they would start practicing the soul mate spell along with the stuff that went along with it. Over the past four months, Harry and Rayne were inseparable. Rayne had kept a close eye on Phoenix, and he seemed to just be biding his time. He had made no move to attack or showed any signs of getting ready to. Ron had been through a rough couple of months with his sister Ginny suddenly professing her love for Draco Malfoy of all people. At first he had absolutely forbid it, and now, he had just stopped talking to her all together.

Rayne had spent a lot of time with Harry showing him wandless magic and mind reading spells. She had also taught him strong protection spells. Harry had made remarkable progress and was almost ready to take Rayne's final test. Harry on the other hand had grown to respect and admire the strength and knowledge that Rayne possessed. He had gotten good at protecting his thoughts from her. The last time she wasn't able to break through his mental wall. She didn't know the plans he had. The plans to reject the soul mate for her. Rayne had taught Harry how to use his mind to enter others just by touching them. He had learned Occulemency and Legelimancy. She had done a wonderful job preparing him for the final battle. He could now finally compete with her fighting and not be taken out after ten minutes. He had grown very strong. Yet, they had not practiced the soul mate spell yet. Harry knew deep down that Rayne was avoiding it. She had agreed that over the holidays she would finally teach it to him. Rayne was going through an emotional roller coaster. She was desperately in love with one Harry Potter, the one she was destined to find a soul mate for. She knew she had promised herself that she would accept her fate, but she was really having a hard time with it. The way Harry looked at her, confused her sometimes, almost as if, he felt the same way. Why couldn't it be her? Why couldn't she be Harry' soul mate. The one whose father was his worst enemy... It wasn't possible. They were from two different worlds. She was born 14 years before him. She wasn't supposed to even be 17. They could never have been meant for each other. She had dreaded this day.

"Rayne, shouldn't we get started." Harry asked her gently.

"I guess so." She said still depressed by her thoughts.

"Hey Rayne, I was thinking, why don't you cast the spell just for the heck of it?" Harry asked.

He figured that at least she should have a chance to be happy, if he was going to be stuck with someone else.

"Because I already told you, I am waiting for him to find me. I am a traditional type of girl." Rayne replied.

"I still think you should take a chance." Harry told her.

"Please don't make me ruin the dream I have of someday finding someone who loves me that much and that I can love back." Rayne pleaded.

"You already have someone who loves you that much." He thought as she turned toward the door.

"Let's go." He said.

She complied. They decided that since everyone had gone home for the holidays that they would be able to practice in the common room.

"OK, Right as you are about to cast the spell, you need to think of the shape you want the mark to take." Rayne started. "Have you narrowed down any candidates?"

"Yes, but I still have my doubts about some of them." Harry started, but Rayne cut him off.

"OK," Rayne said not caring to hear there names. "I recommend casting it at breakfast that is where the most people are in the morning. We have the special Valentines Day breakfast that everyone is required to attend. Go up front and cast the spell and then get your candidates to show you their left shoulder, which is where the mark will appear.

"Why don't we just ask Dumbledore to have the 5th through 7th year girls wear tank tops to breakfast?" Harry said.

"That is actually a good idea." She said. "I will address it with Dumbleodre."

Rayne stood up from the couch she had been sitting on and grabbed her wand.

"In order to cast the spell, you have to chant the words "SOULIARIA BINDUS", and focus on the shape you want to appear on your soul mate. That shape will become a permanent tattoo the minute you touch your soul mate. Until you touch them, only you can see it. Once you touch them, it marks them as your soul mate forever." Rayne told him.

"What if I don't like who my soul mate is, what if I don't want to touch them. What if..." Harry was going on and again Rayne cut him off.

"There are no what ifs. This is the only way to save the world. You have to do this, for you, for me, for everyone, or all those deaths will have been in vain." Rayne spoke sternly. "You need to practice this spell, but it will not work correctly until Valentines Day. Until then, it will just produce light with no effects. What you need to do is cast a powerful enough spell to cast over every girl at Howarts. One of these girls is your soul mate."

"There are hundreds of girls at Hogwarts. What if my soul mate doesn't even go here?" Harry asked.

"Well then we are out of luck and need to start on a Plan B." Rayne simply said, then tried to reassure him. "Don't worry, she is here. The prophecy never lies."

"What prophecy? The one I heard didn't say anything close to searching for a soulmate." Harry said skeptically.

"There is more than one prophecy involving you, Harry. This one was only made about a year ago, after Voldemort regained his powers." Rayne informed him.

"What did it say?" Harry asked his curiosity now peaked.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord searches for his soul...found at the home of the heart...The souls must be bound....the power will be greater than anyone knows.... Either both will die, or both will live, for neither will live without the other,,,the battle cannot be won alone." Rayne repeated quietly.

"Harry sat in silence for a minute. Thinking over what he was just told.

"At least I won't be alone if I find her; at least I will have someone to share my pain with, and to comfort." Harry said sadly.

"You will always have that anyway." Rayne whispered.

Harry looked up at her and smiled.

"Thank you." He said.

Rayne just smiled.