I'm so very sorry everyone...I should have posted this yesterday morning. I've just been so busy looking for a job (it's the only downside to having finally finished my Master's Degree...I now must find a job). Anyway, here it is, hope you like it.


Chapter 28. Weddings and Bonds

It took a week for everything to be ready for Severus's and Sonomi's union. Harry had offered Potter Manor for the event, and extended the invitation for the couple to stay at least the full weekend, so they would have a chance for some quality time just the two of them, since they couldn't feasibly go on a honeymoon until at least the Summer Break…though even then, it wouldn't be safe unless Voldemort was truly gone by then.

Tomoyo had forgone research for the week, focusing on making the wedding attire for her mother and to-be stepfather, as well as making some additions to other pieces she'd been working on for herself, and others so they could be worn that day as well.

The only guests would be the group of Sorcerers, Ron, Albus and Minerva; Severus was the first to state he didn't have any family or close friends, the closest being Long as his godson, Albus and Minerva, though Eriol too seemed to have become a friend in recent times.

In the end they had decided to go with a Binding rather than a wedding, while both were ceremonies for unions the first wouldn't be registered with the Ministry of Magic, unless they willed it so, which would solve (at least short-term) Severus's worry of someone finding out about his union with Sonomi and using that, or her, against him. The spy strongly hoped they would manage to end the war before the baby was born…

So the next Friday evening they were all at Potter Manor. Sonomi was dressed in what looked like a mix of a kimono and traditional dress robes, sand colored with nadeshikos painted and a silvery green sash/obi. Severus was in black dress robes with green trim and a red carnation on his jacket/outer robe. They looked very well together.

Because Sonomi was a sorceress, and she knew just how powerful the teens were, she had insisted that Sakura and Shaoran be the ones to lead their Binding, everyone had agreed. Tomoyo and Naoko stood with Sonomi, while Eriol and Long stood with Severus.

All the Sorcerers were in their ceremonial attires due to the importance of the occasion.

"Blood to blood…"

"Flesh to flesh…"

"Magic to magic…"

"Mind to mind…"

"Soul to soul…"

Sakura and Shaoran each recited one line of their chosen blessing, finishing with the last one in unison.

"Blessed be those who fight for their love against all odds, for the strength of that love will carry them to success in whatever they truly wish to accomplish." The young couple stated in one voice as they held both their joined hands over the new couple's own joint ones. "We now declare you bound as Husband and Wife."

Sonomi and Severus nodded solemnly at the two and then kissed to seal the binding, with everyone clapping behind them.

While it couldn't exactly be called a reception, since there were so few in attendance, they had a big dinner and some dancing following the ceremony.

"Ok," Hermione commented once dinner was over, as the party continued. "I heard Tomoyo say that Mrs. Sonomi and Professor Severus weren't going to be married, but there would be a binding, what is supposed to be the difference?"

It was pretty obvious that the brunette witch/sorceress didn't like not knowing something and it had been eating her for days, when at dinner Sonomi and Severus had announced their plans. The Asians at the table just chuckled slightly.

"It's a bit complicated to explain." Eriol pointed out. "While, technically a wedding and a bond stand for the same; that is, a union, matrimony, they aren't the same in essence."

"It's like this, a wedding follows human laws, it's legal in that sense." Sakura tried to explain. "A binding is a union that follows the laws of magic, it's not legal for the Wizarding World and certainly not for the Muggle one, but in a way it's way more absolute than a wedding could ever be."

"Ok, I understand why the muggle world wouldn't consider it legal, but why not the wizarding world?" Ron asked, confused.

"Wizards and witches don't usually bind themselves to one another." Shaoran pointed out.

"But you…" Long began, he clearly remembered the wedding in China.

"We're sorcerers, and what's more, I am the heir of the most important Eastern Clan, and both Sakura-chan and I are Supreme Sorcerers." Shaoran enlisted. "Just one of those would be reason enough for a Binding, all three of them together…"

"Ok, so I know the legal difference, is that all that's different?" Hermione inquired. "Because if it is I really do not understand why wizards and witches don't do it."

"No it is not, the legal difference is actually the least important one." Sakura admitted.

"A Binding is absolute, eternal, irreversible, whatever adjective you wish to use that amounts to that fits." Tomoyo informed them. "There is no divorce for a Binding."

"There is no divorce in Wizarding Society either." Long pointed out.

"That's because it goes against your traditions, not because it cannot be done." Eriol said seriously. "And those same traditions allow annulment when it suits the more powerful party. For example, if Sirius Black were here right now, or if Naoko could somehow claim her place as his Heiress, she could dissolve Lucius's Malfoy's marriage to Narcissa Black, because, even married, she's still part of the Black House. That annulment would be legal, and what do you think would happen then."

"Lucius Malfoy would be dead." Long deadpanned.

"Certainly." Eriol nodded. "So you see, annulment isn't technically a divorce, but works the same way, as a separation. A Binding is entirely different. Like Tomoyo-chan told you before, it's permanent. It's more traditional of us Sorcerers and one of us will never enter lightly into such a commitment, for we know what it implies."

"You mean eternal in the sense of 'until death do us part' or in the eternal eternity?" Harry asked, very interested.

"Eternal as in eternity." Shaoran pointed out. "You heard such statements being used during Sakura-chan's and my union, they weren't said just because, those words carried magic that bound us, just like the ones we used today bound Sonomi-san and Severus-sensei. It's exactly why we were asked to officiate the union instead of Dumbledore-sensei, only a Sorcerer can officiate another sorcerer's Binding; and the more powerful the sorcerer leading the Binding is, the stronger the blessing on the union."

"A permanent union." Ron repeated, strangely thoughtful. "I find the idea…staggering."

"It is." Sakura nodded. "It's why, like Eriol-kun said, Sorcerers don't do it lightly. Some may live with the same partner for many years before actually Binding themselves to each other, some may never actually do such a thing."

"What about arranged marriages?" Hermione wanted to know. "I mean, we all know those exist among sorcerers too, what happens then?"

"In such a case the two are married, but not bound." Shaoran said solemnly. "Something you need to understanding is that a Binding cannot be forced, only if both parties are fully conscious of the commitment and willing to enter it will the magic act." He seemed to consider things a bit before adding: "My parents were in an arranged marriage, while my mother was from a minor clan, she had proven to be the strongest in her generation and the Elders of the Eastern Council decided she was the perfect match for their new Leader. The marriage took place, but there was no Binding until several years later, about a month or so after the youngest of my sisters, Fuutie, was born. Some believe that them being Bound is in part why I'm so powerful…"

"Because as the magic of the two of them is bound together, it made your own stronger…" Naoko theorized.

"It's the idea." Shaoran nodded. "The thing is, a Binding isn't a forced obligation, it's a commitment, a responsibility but also a joy. Sakura-chan and I are bound, and with that we always know the state the other is in, whether there is any danger, we can also find each other with great ease. While we already had a psychic bond before hand, the Binding has only strengthened that, as well as allowed us to share power. This last part isn't very common, the two people entering the Binding have to be compatible magically for it happen, it's something of a rarity actually…"

"It also means, most likely, that their child, when they choose to have one, will be even more powerful than the two of them." Tomoyo stated. "And considering they're already more powerful than Clow Reed…"

"It's a staggering thought indeed." Eriol agreed. "I mean, I always knew Sakura had the potential to surpass Clow Reed, I knew she was meant to be a Supreme Sorceress…but I could have never imagined things being as they are now."

There were nods in general agreement, most had found the talk about bonds pretty interesting, but there was one factor Hermione wasn't willing to let go off yet.

"If people Bonded are so connected in body, mind, magic and soul…what does that mean when one is…gone?" She knew it was a bit of a rude question, but she really wanted to know.

The seriousness that befell the two couples that had been explaining things until that point said a lot, and yet nothing at all.

"Shaoran-kun has already told you how his parents were bonded; well, mine were too." Sakura decided to be the one to talk this time. "Yes my tou-san is technically a muggle, and it did not matter, he could and was Bonded to my kaa-san. Before you ask, about the technically, it just happens that my tou-san is what's known as a Witness, of Magic and its History, and that's a whole other can of worms so if you don't know what it means you can ask me some other time, ok? In regards to the Binding, like has been said already, it was strong, voluntary and eternal. The stronger the magic of those involved in the binding is, the stronger the bond itself will be; however, even when there isn't that much magical power, or even no magic at all, if the love is particularly strong, the bond can be very remarkable. That was my parents' case, it didn't matter if one of them didn't have any magic, or that the other was a half-blood (in regards to Sorcery as well as magic in general) their Bond was still exceptionally strong…" she smiled sadly. "As to the downside, to understand it you first need to understand, basically, what a bond like this feels like: imagine your essence, your magic, connected to someone else, that's how you always know how that other person is, you can find him, you could talk to him telepathically, and you would never doubt they love you, because the bond is made out of that very love. Now imagine that through some tragedy that person you're bonded to were to die…the bond still exists, your magic still reaches over and again and again trying to find that person you're supposed to be connected to, without being able to find him or her. You would feel it, every day and every night, that something missing, and even if you consciously understand why that is, it wouldn't help at all, your body, mind, your very magic and soul would be constantly crying out for what has been lost. Most people simply refuse to live after suffering such a loss…"

The impact of the words being said was such that most of the girls at the table had tears running down their cheeks. Sakura and Hermione in particular were holding their beloveds tightly, wanting to reaffirm that they were, indeed, there. Tomoyo could feel Eriol holding onto her so strongly she probably would have a few bruises but she didn't care, she knew how he felt about the whole thing, after having lost her (or Clow having lost Tsubame) before.

"But…but your parents…" Hermione muttered, very distressed.

"Our parents, while they had lost their bonded, still had little children to look after." Shaoran pointed out, trying to remain stoic. "Small children who had also lost a parent, and needed them very much…also, in my mother's particular case, she also had a Clan and a Council that needed her after the abrupt and unexpected loss of their Leader."

"They kept living because of us." Sakura added softly. "Even to this day…" she sighed and closed her eyes sadly. "I have no doubt they will both be leaving us in the next decade, probably even less than that, at least I know my father will, once he's sure both Touya-nii and I are going to be alright…"

"They will be gone…like suicide?" Ron was scandalized at the idea.

"Not really." Shaoran shook his head. "It's not really killing themselves as it is simply losing their will to live. Like we already told you, our siblings and us are the reason our parents are still alive today, once we aren't anchoring them to life anymore they will be able to pass on in peace, to finally rejoin the other half of themselves."

Those from Wizarding origins at the table still looked horrified.

"You've seen the spirits in Halloween, and maybe even some other times." Eriol reminded them. "You know death isn't the end. Like Albus likes to say: it's only the next great adventure. For some people, like Yelan-san and Fujitaka-san, that great adventure holds a very particular charm: reuniting them with those they love and who were lost to them years ago. Don't be so depressed my friends, this isn't about death, not even about life, it's about love and spending eternity with the one who completes you so absolutely you simply cannot exist without that person."

"I…there's one thing I still don't understand." Harry commented suddenly, turning to steal a glance at the dancing newlyweds. "I mean, we all know Aunt Sonomi was married before, wasn't she bonded too?"

"Well…" Eriol hesitated before saying anything.

It was obvious he wasn't sure how to answer that question, or even if he should in the first place, after all, it was something rather personal…

"Their story is a bit more complicated." Tomoyo decided that if someone had to talk about that it would be her. "From what I've been told, tou-san was five years younger than kaa-san; the two of them didn't actually meet while she was still a student at Hogwarts. When kaa-san graduated she then attended a University in America to get her business degree, at her father's insistence, while she was a witch, most of the Amamiya fortune came from muggle business. However, after the three years that took for her to get the degree, kaa-san decided that she wanted to live as a witch, so she came back to Hogwarts and convinced the Potions' Master of the time: Horace Slughorn, to take her as an apprentice. As such she would also help when he gave class, this was when she met tou-san. He was a sixth year, very close to the Marauders, even if not a Marauder himself; from what I've been told, he fell in love with kaa-san almost instantly. And yet, kaa-san rejected him several times, first because he was a Black, and the family was well-known for being pureblood supremacists…Sirius's case notwithstanding. In any case, at that time kaa-san's best friends were also Slughorn's favorite students: Lily Evans and Severus Snape."

There were several gasps at that, as they all considered that particular combination, and the way they kept discovering connections in their pasts, in their parents' pasts.

"I do not know everything that happened that year." Tomoyo went on. "Only that tou-san tried to convince kaa-san of going out with him several times, and she turned him down every time, until that summer, right before the end of the school-year. It was the last trip to Hogsmeade and tou-san asked kaa-san out yet again; kaa-san said yes. From what she's told me she hoped that once he'd finally gotten what he wanted he would leave her alone. It didn't really work like that. Somehow, neither of them have ever told me how exactly, tou-san managed to charm kaa-san into going out with him several more times that summer. He turned off-age and moved into his own flat, somehow convincing kaa-san to move in with him. At first she was against it, with him still being a student, while she was a figure of authority at Hogwarts and all that; however, since she wasn't actually a professor it wasn't illegal. They married that December, during the Winter Break, and I was born on September the following year. And like I just said, they got married, but they never bonded…"

That surprised everyone, considering that even Nadeshiko had gone through a Binding, even though her husband was technically a muggle, they had expected Sonomi to have done the same, especially since her husband had been magical too…

"Why…? Hermione couldn't help but ask.

"Kaa-san was already carrying me when she and tou-san married." Tomoyo clarified. "A Binding cannot be performed on a pregnant woman because you run the risk of binding the baby's soul as well, or affecting his development irreversibly with all the magic that is summoned during the ritual.

"Couldn't they have…? I don't know…bonded after you were born or something like that?" Harry commented, puzzled. "I mean, Shaoran said his parents bonded after his sisters had been born, right?"

"True." Tomoyo nodded quietly. "I don't know if it was ever discussed, only that it never happened. I think…I think tou-san didn't want to Bond with kaa-san just in case what happened, did. He was a Black, and yet he supported the Light, that alone made him a Blood Traitor, and considering the kind of psychopaths we all know follow the Dark Lord and are also Blacks…that alone was enough to paint a bulls-eye on his forehead. Then there's the fact that he married a foreigner, and a half-blood to boot! The only one that could possibly rank higher in any Black DEs least might have been Sirius himself, being also a fighter for the light, and married to the daughter of the Leader of Light…"

They could all see where Tomoyo was going. To think that Daniel Black had loved Sonomi Amamiya so much he'd pursued her even when she had her doubts, had married her, had refused to bond with her in an attempt to protect her, and in the end was willing to let her go, to find some happiness in another's arms…

"So no, my parents were never bonded." Tomoyo finished her story while holding back tears. "If they had, kaa-san would be in much the same situation as Sakura-chan's tou-san and Shaoran-san's kaa-san; and I wouldn't have a sibling on the way. So, while I know tou-san and kaa-san loved each other deeply, I cannot be sad for the way things turned out."

Truth is, there was no way anyone could be sad with the way things had turned out. As much as Sonomi and Daniel may have loved each other eighteen years before, it was obvious Severus and Sonomi loved each other in that moment; and as important as it was to remember the past, it was even more important to live the present…

From the Dance floor Sonomi could see the teens were engrossed in a whispered conversation, and managed to make out a few stray words reading lips, not enough to know everything, but enough to know Hermione, and possibly the other British teens wanted clarification on what a Binding was; apparently, despite being part of Sakura's and Shaoran's own, the mechanics of the whole thing hadn't really been explained to them. The woman was also aware when her daughter began talking about Daniel…and as sad as it made Sonomi to remember that past, her past, a part of her was also happy.

She could remember sixteen-year old Daniel, and all his attempts to woo her, which most of the times failed abysmally; though that probably was because he kept asking his brother for help and the Marauders for assistance…She could remember when he had seduced her; well, maybe not exactly seduced, it's not like she wasn't willing, like she didn't care for him, had begun to love him. In December, when she'd learnt she was pregnant, she nearly went nuts, how could that be happening to her? While yes, she wanted to have children, she was unwed, still studying for her Mastery, and the father of her baby hadn't graduated Hogwarts yet! And yet Daniel had taken things calmly, he'd been absolutely delighted about the pregnancy, made arrangements for them to be married just a week later; Sirius and the others were surprised, but happy for them nonetheless, and Slughorn had told her she was more than qualified for Mastery already and just had kept her because she was such a good assistant and he knew she wanted to stay with Daniel…Tomoyo had been born the next September, and for a while it seemed like things could actually be perfect for the little family, as well as all their extended family and friends. She was made Harry's godmother the next summer, by which time Lily and James were already godparents to Sonomi's niece: Naoko; Sonomi had chosen Severus and Lily as godparents to her Tomoyo and Daniel had agreed; while for little Neville, Alice and Frank chose Natasha Black and James Potter. So, in a way, all the friends became connected through magical bonds to each others' children. The that horrible Halloween…Lily and James had died, Sirius had been set up and sent to Azkaban, Alice and Frank lost their minds, Daniel had sacrificed himself while making sure his wife and daughter got away, and what had happened to Natasha…

"Are you alright, Sonomi?" Severus asked softly as he stopped their pseudo-dancing.

They had been swaying in each other's arms more than actually dancing; but it was until they stopped and Severus touched her face that Sonomi realized she'd begun crying. Then, as she looked into her dark eyes, and began to lose herself in them, she remembered how much things had changed, and in less than two years:

She could remember her daughter, her Tomoyo, all of sixteen-years-old, telling her she'd been invited to further her studies in a boarding school in England, and she would be going with Sakura! At first Sonomi hadn't made the connection, or even if she had, the fact that Sakura was going to had confused her. She remembered taking the letter meant for Tomoyo when the girl was eleven, refusing to let her go; she also had heard that Touya had refused to go, choosing to stay with his family, but she'd never heard of Sakura receiving a letter, and back then Sonomi had thought that maybe Sakura just wasn't a witch, after all, it was quite possible with her father being a muggle…she'd just been deluding herself. Months had passed, so many months, until one day, she'd been on a business trip in France, when she'd felt her soul, her magical core screaming at her, something had happened, her Tomoyo needed her. She'd let her magic pull her, and ended up in Scotland, in Hogwarts…Accepting the fact that her daughter was indeed magical, she knew it and was handling it, allowed Sonomi to connect with her daughter in a way she hadn't been able to for years…more or less since Tomoyo was ten or so (and eventually she would learn why that was too). But more than just reconnecting to her daughter, she also got a chance to reconnect with someone else, someone who'd once been her best friend, who might have been more back then if Daniel hadn't managed to steal her heart unexpectedly that Summer…someone who became more than a friend to her so fast Sonomi was shocked at herself, at her heart…Severus Snape.

So much had happened, both good and bad, but in that moment, as she felt Severus's arms around her, as she felt the life growing and developing inside her wombs, and as she sensed the Bond that connected them body, mind, magic and soul, everything was suddenly right, almost perfect even…

"Sonomi?" Severus called her yet again.

She was reminded of the question he'd asked her while she was lost in thought, in the past. So much of her past had the power to make her sad, even the happy memories, as they were reminders of what they had lost; but things were different now, she would never be able to regain what she'd lost back then, but she was able to find something else, a different kind of happiness, one she cherished as much as the first…

"Just perfect Severus…" She finally whispered her answer as she laid her head on his chest and went back to their pseudo-dancing. "Everything's just perfect…"

.-.

Several days later, breakfast seemed to be going like every other day, until an owl made its entrance, carrying a particularly heavy parcel and going straight to Hermione, who barely managed to catch the package and the owl before it crashed onto the Gryffindor Table and everyone's breakfast.

The moment they realized who the package was for, most of the students turned back to their eating, it wasn't anything new for Hermione Granger to receive books in the mail after all. However, several people in particular kept their eyes trained on the young woman and her parcel, as they had a feeling it was important.

After thanking the owl, placing several coins in the bag on its foot and offering it some bacon before sending it away, Hermione ripped off part of the paper covering of her package.

"Yes!" Her cry was audible all over the Great Hall, and yet again call attention to her.

"Hermy?" Harry inquired from her side, confused by her reaction.

"Good thing I have a free period first hour…" Hermione muttered, mostly to herself, as she got to her feet, book clutched tightly in her hands. "I need to do some reading now." She turned to give a peck to her fiancé. "See you later love."

"What exactly was that?" Ron inquired as he watched Hermione leaving.

"No idea." Harry answered honestly.

While it really wasn't strange for Hermione to receive books, or to be thrilled about it, since the beginning of her relationship with Harry she'd never put any book above him, or left without giving any explanation whatsoever…something really strange was going on…

Meanwhile, unknown to the two friends, several pairs of eyes had narrowed dangerously after seeing the scene, they too agreed that what was happening was out of the norm, and that wasn't good, not at all…

.-.

Hermione made it to her private quarters in the Sorcerers' Room in a short time, and as soon as she was inside she completely ripped the paper covering the book she'd just gotten, throwing it aside carelessly. She carefully placed the book on her desk before opening it with the same care and beginning to go through it at a rather fast pace. It took a short time for her to realize that she would find what she was looking for in one of the last pages, and she quickly but carefully got there.

There it was, at the end of the recount of the foundation of Ancient Wizarding Society and the statement through which the Western Council had been created, there was the list of names of the leaders of said council:

Morgana Le Fey

Clow Reed

Rowena Ravenclaw

Godric Gryffindor

Helga Hufflepuff

Salazar Slytherin

Ariadna Pendragon

Ambrosius Wylt


And cut!

Hope you don't want to kill me. And if you do, please remember, if I'm dead I cannot post the next chapter (which, just to remind you, it's already written). Review people, please!

P.S. In the next chapter we'll see more about what Hermione just found. Hold on tight, because the surprises (or as I like to fondly call them, bombs) will just keep coming!