Chapter Seven: Bound

Lily had spent much of her time over the next few days researching what Lucius had told them. She had buried herself in rather ancient books on magic itself and the belief that magic was alive in its own way. The more she read the more she was willing to believe it. Hell, she had experienced it for herself as magic had wound its way around the two of them and cemented the bond between them. She had felt it, it had been real.

Molly had been the source of a lot of answers that books had been unable to give her. She had not realised how much of Wizarding culture was passed on verbally rather than being written down. It did not surprise Lily why many Muggleborns went back to the Muggle world with a feeling that they fit in much better there. It made her wonder how much difference it would make if there was some sort of class at Hogwarts to teach them all the things that children from magical families were raised knowing by heart.

Lucius had been right, Molly and Arthur were bound by magic in the same way she and Severus were. It was rare, even Molly could not think of another couple who had experienced it in their own generation. But she had confirmed what the books had told her, that magic was indeed an entity in its own right and chose to rise up to witness the bonding of true soulmates. With or without magic, soulmates were rare in their own right.

Lily closed the book she had been reading, setting it on the table beside her armchair in front of the fireplace. She found herself smiling as she thought about how much her life had changed just because she had been brave enough to admit to what she wanted. Though there was still a lot to deal with in terms of the fallout from her decision she had to allow herself to be happy. Dwelling on it would not make anything right.

Life with Severus was so easy, so natural. Though they had their separate views on things and naturally could not agree on every single thing, they were more than capable of talking it out. Though she had to admit that when she could talk him around her to point of view she counted it as a win.

She got up to return the book to its rightful place on the shelf when a hot pain seared through her hand, making her drop the book onto the floor. She looked down at her hand but could not see any reason for the pain. So what could... Severus! Lily's mind went to the one cause of the pain that made sense to her and set off running. She knew where to find him, in his potions lab beneath the house.

Severus looked at her in surprise when she burst into the room as he stood with his hand held under a stream of cold water that poured from the tip of his wand. "What's wrong?" he asked her with a frown, unable to understand how frantic she was.

"Your hand.. you burned it?" she asked, her mind racing. She had felt that pain as if it had been her own, a shock of burning pain in a hand without a single mark on it.

"I did," Severus replied, wondering where this was going. She seemed frantic and perhaps a little bit in shock. He was a Potions Master, burns were par for the course.

"I felt it." The last thing he had been expecting was for her to say that and he searched her expression. She had felt it? How was that possible? "I don't know if it's the bond, I think it must be, but I swear I felt it as if I'd burned my own hand."

Severus' mind was whirring at this revelation. "We should test this." Ever the Potions Master he felt the need to test out the theory right away to see if it was accurate or not. He picked up a small knife used to dissect various potions ingredients. He turned his back to Lily so she would not see exactly where he touched the knife to his skin, just to be sure her mind did not play tricks on her.

She felt the sharp prick of a knife's point against her left thumb, though nothing was touching her. "That was your left thumb," she told him and he turned around to look at her with such surprise. It had been.

To know that this was part of the bond between them, to feel each other's pain, had Severus' heart aching. While it was wonderful to know that they shared something so special it also terrified him. What if the Dark Lord ever got his hands on him? Should the madman begin to throw the Cruciatus curse his way then Lily would feel every moment of it and he absolutely could not have that. He had to protect her.

Lily saw the barely controlled panic in his eyes and sighed softly. She knew him, she knew what it was that he feared so desperately. She walked over to him and held his hand. "We can keep each other safe, Sev. You're not in this alone, please don't ever forget that." He did not have to handle this alone like he had with so much in his life already.

He tried his best to keep calm, to not panic over the thought of her being hurt in any way. At least they had the added protection of the runes that Regulus had given them. He would have to find the proper way to thank him for that.

"I know." And honestly he did. He did not have to be alone any more. "I'm afraid old habits die hard." Though he knew neither Lucius nor Regulus would appreciate the knowledge he had considered himself alone in some ways despite having their unwavering friendship. Well, they did not need to know in that case.

"Well if those old habits creep in, just remember who my Patronus represents. And who is reflected in yours." Lily smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around him, giving him the hug he had not realised he needed. Severus hugged her back, resting his chin on top of her head. He would always be glad that she knew him better than he knew himself sometimes.

"I will, my terrifying Red Kite," he replied with a little smile of amusement. If he was to be bound to someone so irrevocably then there was absolutely nobody he would rather it be than her.

"Don't you forget it. Red Kite's bite, you know," she could not resist telling him, trying not to laugh.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Severus chuckled. At least his life would always be interesting now.