Usual Disclaimer: Unfortunately this world and its wonderful inhabitants do not belong to me, they belong to J. K. Rowling, I'm just borrowing them. I am making no money from this it is purely for the enjoyment of those few who choose to read it. Thanks J. K. for lending me your ready made world of magic.
A/N: Ah the cliffhanger is resolved at last! Thank you one and all for the reviews and even the death threats... I would like to point out that chance of updates would decrease drastically had any of the death threats been fulfilled but hey I care not because My exams a nearly over and I can do what I like! Yippee. Any way here is the update, as promised, on Saturday 29th May. Enjoy!
Thanks to: Kioratt, laura, Punk14, Jello-Munkyz, Syclike, Nefyr, kat, Andromeda Summer, Dragenphly, Nichole08, Arwen Urodumiel, Purveyor of Darkness: Tyrini, tamachan444, Draeconin, fancyfantacyfairy, Hermioen Bullstrode, SiLvErFaTeD, Malfoy's Kitten, RoDa, Harry Lover264, SheWolfe7, Beloved, GothicAngel, Sarah, Isis-mystic, Siriusly Black2, Raven, The-Magnificent-Fuzzy (a.k.a Fuzzy-Bumpkins), shorty-girly, Kylie Dumbledore and Fallen Angel (I will check out your stories and comment as soon as I get a chance, please be patient though. :-P)
Extra A/N: The song lyrics below belong to the wonderful Aerosmith. Not me. Obviously.
"Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating,
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming,
Wondering if it's me you're seeing,
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together,
And I just want to stay with you in this moment forever,
forever and ever."
Chapter 20 - What It All Means.
Slowly she reached forward and lifted Harry's shirt, her eyes coming to rest on the coiled image of the snake on Harry's chest.
"Oh Merlin." She breathed, her fear confirmed.
Harry looked worried by her response to his tattoo; he had not spent long in wondering where it had come from or what it meant. He had just unquestioningly accepted it as part of him.
"Harry do you know what this means?" She asked, although she was certain she already knew the answer.
"No." Harry shook his head, wondering if he should feel ashamed of not taking more notice in it or whether it was just Hermione's unnerving motherliness.
"This is hard to explain. The stag represents your guardian, in your case - your dad like your Patronus. The dragon represents Draco's guardian. The lion represents you and the snake Draco. The animals chosen to represent you are chosen by your most prominent characteristic, in this case your House loyalties it seems." She paused and seen that Harry was following so far but still looked puzzled by it's meaning. "The bowing of the guardians signifies their consent to the relationship just... um... consummated. The joining of the lion and snake symbolises the coming together of two souls as one." Harry's eyes widened in slow realisation of the point Hermione was making but she continued her explanation. "The bowing between the stag and the snake and between the dragon and lion represent the guardians' support of the chosen mate of their protectee. These markings..." She indicated to Harry's chest, which was now recovered by his shirt. "They signify your and Draco's commitment to each other." She hoped the full weight of the situation had sunk in and it certainly seemed so, as Harry's jaw lay open rather unattractively. "It was a bonding symbol." She clarified.
"We're bonded?" Harry struggled to get his words out, finding it hard to grasp the fact that he and Draco were bonded to each other and had not even known. It was so natural to them, it had just become part of who they were. "Soul mates?" Things began to make sense, the tattoos, the symbol and the orb, it must work because of the bond, he figured. "Forever?" He looked to Hermione, looking a bit frightened.
"Forever." Hermione nodded. Hermione understood the intensity of bonding, she had been fascinated when she had read about it. It was beautiful, romantic... and dangerous. "Harry... this is... do you know what this means." Hermione asked, unsure if Harry would know the full extent of the bond. She was not the only one however, who read books and the book Harry had read a while ago came rushing back to him.
"We can't be separated, not by far or for long at least. We can feel each other's feelings and in some circumstances, one can heal the other without a wand..." He hesitated before continuing with the last thing. "If one of us dies the other will be left with a broken soul and will never have a full life. They would most likely kill themselves rather than continue existing without their other half." Hermione nodded to all of this. Harry knew this was indeed dangerous, more dangerous than even he had imagined. He couldn't die. He couldn't leave Draco behind like that.
"Harry... If you-know-who found out... or Lucius... You're both in serious danger."
"We'll deal with that when and if it arises." Harry set his jaw determinedly. "We'll be fine. We can fight together." Even though he tried not to let it, fear wavered in his voice and Hermione couldn't help but think he looked like a frightened child as she pulled him into a supportive hug.
"I won't let them take him." He voiced his fear shakily.
"Shh. I know. I know." She rocked him back and forth comfortingly. "You're going to have to be so careful Harry, none of us wants to lose you and.. it seems... it seems like this could be... extra baggage."
"No! If anything it makes me stronger!" Harry pulled away, his determination shining through.
"Just be careful Harry." Harry nodded, trying in vain to think of a time when he wasn't careful. He had Draco to protect now and he would do so with all his power until his last breath.
"How are you going to tell him?" Hermione asked as she got up from the couch.
"I won't need to." Harry answered cryptically. She didn't ask as they moved towards the door.
"Things will look better in the morning." She tried to sound convincing as she opened the door and they headed upstairs. "Goodnight Harry." She whispered as they reached his bedroom door and she continued quietly along the hall to her own room.
"Hermione..." Harry whispered as she moved away and she turned back slightly, predicting his question.
"My lips are sealed." She whispered back.
Harry opened his bedroom door and found Draco waiting for him, as he knew he would. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and he looked up from the glass orb, which lay, in his lap. His eyes were swimming with mixed emotions and Harry sensed the fear in his mate. Harry lingered in the doorway, unsure of what to say or do, staring deep into the troubled silver eyes staring back at him. Draco put the orb aside and stood up. Harry took a few unsteady steps forward until his knees buckled beneath him, no doubt from the weight of the days events resting on his shoulders. Draco rushed instinctively forward, catching him before he hit the ground and helping over to sit on the bed. Harry sat, rubbing his aching head and Draco took his glasses off for him, laying them beside the bed before rising to close the door. When he returned to Harry's side, Harry's eyes began searching his again, in silence all the while. Neither knew what to say and so stripped down to their boxers to sleep in and lay together, kissing softly in the need for reassurance and comfort. Harry fell into a fitful sleep while Draco lay awake holding him close, mulling over some very mixed up thoughts. He absent-mindedly stroked Harry's jaw line to soothe him while his thoughts churned. It had been a hard two days, especially on Harry but things could only get better, right?
Harry only slept for a few hours and Draco did not sleep at all, thankful for the sleep he had gained earlier.
"What you thinking?" Harry asked quietly as he woke. Draco had been staring at the ceiling, still absent-mindedly running his fingers down the side Harry's face, not having realised that Harry had woken. He turned to look into liquid emerald and whispered emotionally "I'm glad it's forever."
"Me too." Harry returned, flooded with immense relief and adoration for his blonde mate. "I love you Dray and no one can change that, I won't let them. I won't tear us apart and they can think what they want."
"I love you too." Draco softly put a finger to Harry's lips to silence him. "And I can't wait for the rest of our lives." Draco finally fell asleep in the comforting arms he hoped would never leave him.
Grimmauld was a place of relative peace and quiet for the two days following that. Hermione was glad that Harry and Draco had taken the huge news of their bond well and still seemed to be on track. Harry and Draco continued to use every free moment to their advantage while Ron, Ginny and, in the most part, Hermione remained oblivious to their steamy encounters. Hermione was contented to spend most of her time in the Library, Ginny made a start on her homework - Draco aiding her with her potions, and Ron milled around doing homework or playing chess with Draco (Draco trouncing two times out of three). Also, just to surprise everyone, which he did, Dobby appeared to clean the house and explained that he would be doing so once a week upon orders from 'Dumblydore'. What had surprised everyone more was the way he had rushed up and hugged Draco and Draco's warm response to him. It seemed they had been friends, Dobby being the person Draco had talked to at Malfoy manor - another thing Harry had deprived him of. They had talked briefly of it but Draco had discarded it, telling Harry to leave it in the past where it belonged. Dobby was far better off now anyway.
Relations between everyone were definitely improving but harry was beginning to feel in desperate need for some time alone with Draco without rushing for fear of being interrupted. He talked to Hermione and she agreed to go to Diagon Alley with Ron and Ginny for the day to leave Harry and Draco for some 'alone time' the next day.
"Draco? Can I talk to you please?" Hermione asked, ignoring the strange looks she received as she interrupted him at breakfast the next morning. Once they were outside the kitchen Hermione cast a silencing spell on the door, in no doubt that Ron would be listening intently on the other side. "I thought I should tell you that it's Harry's birthday in two days time." She said, getting straight to the point.
Draco's eyes widened "I can't believe it! I can't believe I forgot! I'm such and idiot! What am I gong to do? I wanted to get him the perfect gift."
"Calm down. We'll figure something out. Do you..." She hesitated to bring up his family situation but decided to continue. "Do you have access to some of your money?"
"One of my accounts yes. One in My name and not my fathers." He practically spat.
"Good, then I can get you a gift for Harry."
Draco looked disappointed. "I really wanted to get him something special. But thank you." He added the last part hastily, not wanting to seem ungrateful.
Just before they left for Diagon Alley Draco and Hermione managed to, once again, sneak aside with a piece of parchment and a quill. Soon Hermione was reading through the letter Draco had written for her explaining that she was to take the specified amount of money from his account and, struck by sudden inspiration, added that part of it was to be exchanged into muggle currency. Her eyes widened as she read the amount he had written.
"You really want to spend this much on him?"
"Of course. I want to get him something special." He stressed the last word and Hermione nodded, her apt brain already running through possible gift ideas, the list of which was endless from the amount Draco was willing to spend.
"Any ideas?" She asked.
"A pendant maybe? Or a bracelet? Oh and a single red rose - get them to put that charm on it to preserve it for a few days." Draco's cheeks tinted slightly pink at his show of sentimentality but Hermione just smiled and accepted the Gringotts key he held out to her.
Draco didn't know how she had done it but when Hermione returned that evening she brought with her the perfect gifts. She handed them over along with the Gringotts key, the rose, and the converted muggle money and when Draco looked at the gifts she'd chosen he almost cried at how perfect they were. He even let himself slip so far as to give a very startled Hermione a hug. Then they arranged Harry's birthday together.
It was all set. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were going to catch a movie at a cinema in a nearby muggle town and Hermione would tell them whatever it took to keep them out as late as possible so that Draco could take Harry out for a surprise meal. Until Draco revealed the surprise, harry would be under the impression that Hermione was trying to give them some more 'alone time'.
