A/N – Sorry guys, this isn't the best. I redid the end of the last chapter too…I didn't really like it.
Disclaimer – I own nothing. J.K Rowling owns all.
Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed...not sure where i'm going with the story, but im gonna keep writing it...
Ron walked through the door to the potions lab, and barely managed to stifle a groan. He was the last person to enter the room, and Snape had set everyone to partners. The only person left was Pansy Parkinson.
"So good of you to join us Mr. Weasley," Snape said, looking up from his books, "as you can see, I have you paired with Miss Parkinson. Please, try to make this experience as painless as possible for her."
Ron blushed, and moved as slowly as possible over to the desk he had been assigned to.
"Hurry up Weasley. 10 points of Gryffindor for dawdling."
With a roll of his eyes, Ron walked over to his desk and pulled out his chair. Slumping into the chair, he sullenly muttered, "What brilliantly useful potion are we making today?"
Snape, who had overheard his comment, came sweeping over to his desk with a larger than normal scowl on his face.
"Well Weasley, if you had been listening when you came into the room, you would know that we are making the Solinus Potion. Now, who can tell me what the Solinus Potion does? Potter. What do you have to say?"
"The Solinus Potion reveals to a person their soul mate. The potion also forces them to begin forging the bond with their mate."
"Mr. Malfoy. Can you add anything to this?"
"The Solinus Potion will only show a person's mate to the actual person. Only you and your mate will be able to see each other's aura. The potion doesn't take into account current relationships, gender or age difference. The effects of the potions will only wear off when the two people have began to bond – both parties must be doing it voluntarily though."
"Mr. Potter. I wonder if you can tell me the reaction of the soul mates if one rejects the other?"
"The one who made the first approach will die within 48 hours of a broken heart – it's as if the body shuts down from grief. The one who rejected the approach can only reverse this effect with the words 'from the dawning of time have our souls been linked, and until the end of life so they shall remain'."
"Well done both of you. 20 points to Slytherin and 10 to Gryffindor for answering my questions. Now, upon the board are the ingredients for the potion, and the instructions," with a wave of his wand, the ingredients and instructions appeared in the board, "as this is a double period, you will have two hours to complete your potion. Now. Get to work."
-- ---
Fawkes gently hooted in Dumbledore's ear. The old man sat up with a start and adjusted his half-moon spectacles, which were about to fall off his nose.
"What happened? Oh dear…did I fall asleep again? You really must wake me next time Fawkes."
Fawkes hooted indignantly.
"Yes well. You did wake me up, didn't you? What have we here?" Dumbledore asked, picking up a letter from his desk and breaking open the seal.
Dear Albus,
We are writing to inform you that Nymphadora and I are engaged, and hope to be married at the beginning of Spring. We hope that you are well, and that Harry is also doing well. We wish to discuss with you Harry's living arrangements, as, when Nymphadora and I are married, we feel that we will be able to provide him with the family that he has never had. If possible, could you please owl us with a time that would be convenient for you for this meeting? We also have a favour to ask of you. Could you please not tell Harry of us until the meeting – I don not want to disappoint him again.
Sincerely,
Remus
-- ---
Harry was about to stand to walk to the storeroom where the ingredients for the potion were kept, when Draco began to talk.
"Potter. You actually know something. It appears that you have actually learnt from the past and studied what we will be brewing this year."
Resisting the urge to snap back at him – being in love with someone didn't make them less irritating all of the time – he calmly nodded, and said "Yes. I decided that if I wanted to do my best this year I would have to actually go to some amount of effort. Quite like you and transfiguration I suppose."
And, with a satisfied, almost Malfoy like smirk, he walked over to the storeroom and began to collect the ingredients that he and Draco would need to make the Solinus Potion.
-- ---
"Well my love, Dumbledore should have gotten the letter by now. I wonder what his reaction will be? Normally he guesses things like this – he's uncannily like Molly Weasley in that was – but I don't think he had any idea at the last meeting of the order."
"No," Tonks replied with a smile, "he didn't, did he? But, as long as he doesn't tell Harry, it doesn't really matter."
Tonks stood on her tiptoes to kiss Remus, and her arms reached around his neck. Remus broke the kiss to nuzzle at her neck, and Tonks sighed with happiness.
"I love you Remus. I can never tell you that often enough. I hope Harry wants to live with us in the holidays."
"Trust me love. He will. When he stays with the muggles he always writes me to tell me that he would rather be living anywhere else. Once I suggested he should live on the school train. He wrote back straight away asking if I could arrange it. So, I think he will be pleased to finally have a real family."
-- ---
"Potter, you weren't meant to put in four dung beetle shells. That would most probably turn it into bloody acid rain or something. You were supposed to add one crushed dung beetle shell and the wings of four flies."
"Oh for heavens sake Malfoy. If you are so brilliant, then you can do it."
"Fine. I will. And, what's more, it shall be perfect."
Harry rolled his eyes, and said in an apathetic tone "whatever Malfoy."
Damn, everything he does is perfect anyway. It's not like adding bloody fly wings and dung beetle shells would be any different. But…I wonder…is he really my soul mate? I know that we have a connection…but is it our souls connecting? Or am I just over-reacting?
Professor Snape came sweeping over to the desk Harry and Draco were sharing.
"Potter, Draco, very good." Raising his voice, he said, "Class, you will notice how Draco's potion has turned a deep purple in colour. That's what everyone else's should look like. Yes Longbottom – even yours. I didn't pair you with Granger because the two of you look good together. I did it so that you wouldn't kill everyone in the room." lowering his voice again, Snape said to Harry and Draco, "now, the potion needs to simmer for ten minutes. I don't want you to kill, main or hurt each other. And keep your arguments down to a dull roar." And with that, he swept off towards Ron and Pansy's desk.
"I got your letter." Draco said, whilst studying his fingernails.
"Yeah. Thanks for your's. You were right – I can't and won't tell Ron and Hermione what's going on. I figure…you don't exactly have a high opinion of me. so knowing this won't make it any different."
"Aren't you concerned that I'll tell someone?"
"Well, yes. But…what would you gain from it? No one would believe that the "Great Harry Potter" had muggle relatives who he couldn't even stand up to. I mean, my friends know what happens on the surface, but…they think that I don't want to hurt them, so that's why I don't stand up for myself. I suppose…if they want to think that, it doesn't hurt them."
"Yes. But eventually it will hurt you. And…I don't exactly know how to say this, but…I am becoming more and more attached to you."
"Really? Strange…I seem to have become attached to you as well."
Draco put up his hand, and hissed to Harry "just do as I say." Professor Snape swept over, and, impatiently, asked "Yes Draco. What is it?"
"Potter seems to think he needs to go to the hospital ward."
"Really Potter? And what seems to be ailing you?"
"It's my head Sir." he replied, placing influence upon the word head, hoping that Snape would translate it as "My scar hurts."
"Very well. Potter, go to the hospital wing. Draco, please accompany him. You will both have to make this lesson up tonight in detention."
With that, Draco walked out of the classroom, leaving Harry to slowly walk out, ignoring the whispered questions that followed him out of the room.