Disclaimer; see in Part One.

Hidden Bridges

Ryoko Porter

Part Eleven

'There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.'

Albert Camus

The quiet of the late night was upon Hogwarts, and all was calm and where it should be. Students slept soundly in their dorms, and teachers in their apartments. Magical creatures continued their natural business silently. And all magic rested.

Ron and Hermione slept worriedly, agonizing over what they had heard earlier in the day. Harry and Draco slept in each other's arms in the hospital wing, uncaring of the reaction anyone would have. And in his apartment, Julian and his wife lay naked together. Awake and contemplating the day.

'They didn't care that I had found them naked together, or that others could have. Neither did they panic at the realization that they had slept together. I think my presence here is affecting them,' Julian rationalized as he held the woman close to him, and smoked his cigarette.

'Are you worried?' Luna asked, snuggling closer to his side. Julian only grinned, and she knew that he was not. 'Hermione and Ron followed Snape into the office today while I was speaking with Dumbledore. I gave them clues to their deaths and about Harry and Draco. It is all we can do to save them I'm afraid,' Luna worried. Secrecy surrounded Ron and Hermione's deaths. The two had disappeared, and their bodies found years later.

For a while the two silently lay together, as if waiting for everything to end. Then as his cigarette burnt out, Julian looked down to the woman at his side. He felt a fondness for her then, like he rarely felt for anyone. It was reminiscent of a sibling love, but had the obvious undertow of a strange sort of romance. He knew that she loved him with all her heart. He also knew that she was aware that he did not love her romantically. This woman in his arms had suffered all of her life aside him. And in the end, he would fight to save her from his fate also.

'I never told you, but you helped me get through my life. You were a very good wife, and I thank you.'

Luna sighed at the compliment and snuggled closer to his warmth.



The two young men smiled warmly at each other. The bonding ceremony was finished and they were one. When Harry looked into Draco's eyes, he saw the undying love that was only for him. They had been together for a little over a year and a half, and though the war was not over, they wanted to be bound together forever. It was a risk of course, seeing that one of them could die, but Draco still wanted it. And Harry could never deny the one who gave him everything, something so wanted.

So here they stood, bonded together with friends watching. It was a secret bounding, with only thirty people max. Dumbledore was performing the ceremony. Luna was the second, helping to bound them even closer. And wizards from the Order were there to witness the joyous occasion.

Walking hand in hand they headed for the school, seeking a place to finish the ceremony privately. But suddenly Harry stopped, his senses wheeling into over drive. Not a sound could be heard, and that worried him. Draco stopped too, and scanned the area with his sharp eyes. They knew that something was going to happen.

The cry of Luna was the last thing they heard.



Draco held Harry desperately close to him. He could feel his beloved slowly slip away from him. An unknown spell had hit him, and no one knew what to do. Luna, though injured herself, sat close to them, begging for her friend's life. Draco knew that the headmaster was watching them, unsure himself on what to do. But Draco knew what to do, though it would come at a great price to himself.

'It's not time yet Harry. The world still needs you, and you know the needs of the many out weigh the few. God how I love you,' he whispered to the chilling body in his arms, burying his face in the dark hair. 'Old man,' he said quietly.

'Yes Draco?' Dumbledore said to indicate his attention.

'Perform a body switching spell,' Draco ordered.

'But Draco…'

'DO IT NOW!' Draco screamed out in panic.

Sighing in defeat, Dumbledore knew that the boy was right. Harry was needed more than Draco was. But it hurt to see the blonde clutch onto his lover, and shake with every bad emotion he had. Draco would suffer whatever Harry was feeling now, but he was choosing to do so. Summoning all of the magic he could muster, the old wizard called forth the spell that would switch the souls in the bodies. As the incantation progressed, a blinding light surrounded the two boys. Dumbledore could feel their magic's change, though he could not see their bodies.

Finally he stopped chanting, and the light weaned. But as the vision became clearer, he could see only one body. Something had gone terribly wrong. As he moved closer, Luna moved to hold the boy in her arms. And as he came within a meter, he saw that in her arms lay a blonde longhaired boy with a lightning scar on his forehead.

'What have you done?' Luna asked weakly.

Thinking about it, he realized his error. 'The bounding ceremony wasn't completed. The two spells must have combined.'

End of part 11.

AN: so what do you think? Now you all know how Julian came to be. But don't worry there's much more to know. I think we're at the halfway point! Oh and sorry Hermione and Ron lovers… but I had to add some more tragedy. I might make them survive, but I haven't decided yet. Anyway… please review! Mama wants reviews!

Ryoko Porter