"Ah," the high, cold voice carried through the courtyard, "young Draco." Lord Voldemort's pale lips curved upwards into a smile cold enough to freeze fiendfyre. "Come." His voice was quiet, though the command radiating from it was palpable.
The crowd shifted as the man in question stepped through the front line a few paces to the right of her, sun glinting off his white-blonde hair. He stood tall, rolling his shoulders back before he took slow step after slow step towards the Dark Lord, parents clutching each other behind him. He stopped in front of Voldemort, who only cocked his head in question, waiting as Draco Malfoy stepped to the side, joining his parents.
The next few moments were a blur as Hermione stared at Harry Potter, dead on the ground at the Dark Lord's feet, in shock. Neville was called forward as an example, only for it to backfire when he pulled forth the sword of Gryffindor aiming for Nagini's head. But he never found his target.
As her eyes flitted over the scene, they fell upon the trio of blondes just behind Voldemort, eyes drawn to one in particular. When his grey eyes met hers, a crackle of magic reverberated around the courtyard, freezing even Voldemort's rage as Death Eaters and Hogwartians alike searched for the source of the disturbance.
Harry's body was gone, and many believed he was the reason for the disturbance as they cried out for him, led by Hagrid.
Hermione Granger did not look around, she did not search for the magic. She felt it pulse beneath her skin. And as she stared into Draco Malfoy's eyes, she knew as well as she knew her own name that he felt the same flow of power through his own veins.
She took a step forward, Malfoy mirroring her across the empty expanse, caught between either side of the war.
"'Mione, what the bloody hell?" Ron grabbed her arm, although for all the notice she paid him, his grip could have been as light as Ginny's pygmy puff's. She shook him off, stepping further into the divided space, both sides frozen as they watched the two approach each other. She could feel the pull towards him, the drive to protect, to want, Draco Malfoy.
They stopped inches from each other, staring into each other's eyes as the whispers reached an alarming volume.
"Soulmates!"
It was hissed with such venom she almost missed the word as her brain kicked into overdrive, flying through information to remember what she had read about soulmates in the wizarding world. The Hogwarts library hadn't had much on the topic, and the rarity of a true mate bond had discouraged her from her usual level of research. From what she could remember, a bond usually didn't present until both parties were of age and was triggered at eye contact. A sealed soulmate bond was equivalent to any bond created during matrimony and was recognized as such; though unlike a marriage bond, it was unbreakable. During any of these major events, the magic could be felt by additional parties depending on the strength of the bond. Hermione surmised that their bond must be incredibly strong for everyone in the courtyard to have felt the surge as it was triggered.
She could feel the absurdity of the situation in some logical, distant part of her brain. It was yelling at her to run, to finish what they started. The rest of her, the part that was winning, wanted nothing more than to touch Draco Malfoy.
Malfoy looked down at her, lips twitching into a smirk, almost as if he could read her thoughts, as he raised his hand, palm up in offering towards her. "Well, Granger?"
Someone scoffed loudly behind him.
"Just us," he promised, eyes sincere.
Someone was crying behind her, loud wracking sobs, and it grated her nerves, and she did not turn to look who it was.
"Just us," she confirmed, "against the world." She placed her hand in his, as the world exploded around them.
She could feel the axis of the world realigning, the entire earth tilting on its axis, hinging upon their soulbond as every other bond she carried with her fell away, paling in comparison to her newfound reason of existence: Draco Malfoy. The need to live, both for and because of him.
They were caught in the eye of a storm, larger than she'd ever seen, larger and more powerful than any other, but they were glued together by their joined hands.
As the dust settled around them, Hermione looked around, her eyes widening in shock as she found nothing and no one resembling the scene they had just left. The castle had seemingly repaired itself from the damage done by the spiders and giants, the rubble replaced by the same cobblestones she'd trod upon for the last six years, and the Death Eaters and Order members alike had all disappeared.
"What the-" Draco trailed off, staring around.
She turned to him, suddenly nervous, "I don't know much about bonds, just the legends. But I remember reading somewhere that the bond magic was so pure that if the bond was strong enough, the magic could have a healing effect on the surrounding area or anyone in it."
"The manor library has some old texts regarding different kinds of bonds. There might be something there," Draco offered, proffering his arm for side-along. At her hesitation he sighed. "My magic will get us in, and we can go straight to the library and ward the room. Our magic combined is stronger than anything they would be able to throw at us. Nothing will harm you, love," he looked at her seriously.
She nodded, appeased, and took his arm as he apparted them away, directly into Malfoy Manor.
The scent of old books and leather overwhelmed her as Draco stepped away quickly to ward the room. Turning to watch him cast, she could feel some of her magic drain as he spelled the door. She hadn't paid him much attention in classes, but she realized now that he was glorious. She could feel a weight drop in her chest as she watched him flourish his wand, the multicolor sparks flying across the doorway. He finished, turning to face her, pushing his hair from his eyes, as his face shone with the effort of his magic. He smirked at her and she schooled her expression into one of haughty indifference, turning to face the rows of books behind her.
He strode past her to a small stand off to the side, tapping the book twice with his wand. A golden light pulsed softly from the leather book as it flipped open and began generating a list. As Draco selected from the list, the books floated from between the shelves to hover in front of him.
"Take your pick, Granger," he said. She stared dumbfounded; even the Hogwarts library system hadn't been so advanced. "I pulled everything on bonds, so whatever we have should be here," he said, indicating the floating books.
He passed her a stack of books and crossed to a table surrounded with dark leather chairs. Dropping down to the seat across from him, she opened the top book, Bonds Between Us: The Overview of Wizarding Bonds, and began to read.
After half an hour had passed, she was becoming frustrated. There were detailed descriptions of familial bonds, marriage bonds, even friendship bonds, but not one mention of a soul bond. She gave up and began flipping through a second book, stopping suddenly when a subheading caught her eye.
The True Match - Soul Bonds
"A soul bond is the strongest and most intimate known bond between magical beings. The bond is triggered once both parties are of age and have sustained eye contact. Depending on the strength of the bond, the magic can be felt not only by the bondees, but any in the surrounding area. The bond solidifies in the pair's magic through touch. The bond will be fragile at this point and can create bouts of accidental and erratic magic, with plummeting energy levels the longer the pair waits to seal the bond.
A soul bond, allows the bondees to share magic and creates a barrier from mutual harm. However, the bond must be sealed through consummation in which both parties climax. If this is not achieved, the pair will individually lose sanity until they have lost control of their magic."
Hermione sat, staring at the passage, letting her eyes flick up towards the wizard across from her, his blond hair falling across his forehead as he hunched over his own book. She had never been able to fully appreciate him. He was beautiful, his sharp chin and cheekbones having softened slightly over the years, giving his once pointy features a hardened, rugged look.
"Need something, love?" His eyes snapped to hers and she stopped breathing, the molten silver almost glowing. She swallowed.
"I think I found something," she croaked out. Draco stood, moving behind her and leaning over her in a way that sent a shiver down her spine as he scanned the page she pointed at.
He made a noise of exasperation in his throat, hand tightening on the table next to her, and she felt her face fall as she looked determinably at the book in front of her. Of course he wouldn't want her, even the bond couldn't make him physically attracted to her.
She felt his breath ghost down her neck as he leaned further over her.
"We don't have to," she started, clearing her throat. "We might be able to find another way?"
"Is that what you want?" he growled huskily, teeth ghosting the shell of her ear. She swallowed hard, eyes staring straight ahead. "Granger." His teeth had moved down to her jawline.
"Hmm?"
"Is that what you want?" he paused over the juncture of her throat and neck. Her breath quickened.
"Say it," he commanded.
"No," she gasped it in a breath, as his mouth latched onto the point on her neck and it turned into a cry.
"Good." He kissed hungrily up and down her throat. "Because I would go mad for you, but I am already half in love with you."
She turned slightly, her movement causing him to look up, and, eyes meeting hers, his gaze dropped to her lips momentarily before his own crushed down upon them.
Kissing Draco Malfoy was sinful. His mouth was warm and hard yet tender as he molded it to her own. His tongue was demanding as it ran along the seam of her lips. His hand coming up to her cheek, thumbnail dragging along her jawline. She gasped a breath, and he greedily took the chance and swept into her mouth, beginning a relentless assault on her own tongue.
She turned fully in her seat to face him, and he took the opportunity to fold himself to her, reaching his hands down around her waist. He pulled her to standing, turning them so she was backed against the table in front of them as he pressed into her. She could feel his erection through his pants pressing between her thighs and felt a swooping sensation in her lower stomach. Logically, she knew she was about to fuck Draco Malfoy, but it felt so different than it had with Viktor or Ron. With Viktor it had been her first time, and she had been more concerned with whether she was doing everything right than how it felt. With Ron it had been fumbling and awkward, full of long limbs and knocking teeth and more than one odd sound coming from somewhere it shouldn't. But with Draco, she was completely overwhelmed by the feeling of his arms on either side of her. The way she simultaneously felt protected from the world and as though she was a queen atop it. His hand reached out to grab her knee, slowly caressing higher and pressing it up and outward, as she sat back on the table for support. She complied and opened for him, wrapping her legs around his waist, snapping her fingers behind his neck to disappear both her jeans and his trousers.
He groaned into her mouth and pulled her tighter against him, letting her feel his entire length pressed against her core. She gripped his hair tighter in her hands as she nipped his bottom lip, looking up at him smirking when he pulled away slightly. He growled, yanking her hair forcing her head back as his teeth dragged down her neck and his hand slipped beneath her knickers.
She let her head fall back as he circled her entrance, whining when he paused. Only then did he sink one long finger into her, causing her to groan. He slowly pumped it in and out as she sank into the ecstasy of it.
"You're so fucking wet for me." She could only whine in response, turning it into a groan as he added a second finger.
"You like that, baby?" Her heavy breathing was his only response.
He pressed his thumb to her clit, and she almost screamed in pleasure. "Answer me, and I'll let you come," he growled.
"Yes!" she gasped out.
"Well then you'll love this." He pulled his hand from her ripping her knickers off in the process and knelt at the end of the table, pulling her to the edge. He pushed her knees wide and pressed his mouth to her center, dipping his tongue into her core, before running it up her cunt circling it around her clit. She could feel her thighs beginning to shake, but when she tried to close them, he pushed them back down, wrapping an arm around her waist holding her flat to the table. He continued his assault on her clit with his tongue, plunging two fingers back into her.
"Oh god Draco!"
"Come for me, love." And she broke apart around him.
He stood, wiping his mouth on his sleeve as he pulled his straining cock free and plunged into her. Hermione shuddered around him. He thrust into her at a punishing pace, gripping her thighs to his waist.
"So fucking good for me." His words were like honey, dripping over her and adding more fuel to the fire he'd ignited inside her. "So fucking perfect."
She could feel her orgasm building again, and he moved one of his hands to her throat, leaning over her and kissing her harshly, teeth scraping against each other. His fingers tightened along the sides of her throat, and while she could still breathe, she felt her vision stutter and the feeling of his cock sliding in and out of her intensify.
"There you go, love."
When she came this time, she saw stars. She could feel him emptying out inside of her, and as his seed hit her cervix she could feel the world transcend around her as the library was swept away in a glow of golden light. Similarly to before where they were connected by their hands, he seemed glued inside her cunt as a golden thread of light wrapped itself around the pair of them, winding itself between and around them but connecting them via their chests as the string disappeared between her breasts and into his sternum.
"The bond," he whispered.
"It's beautiful," she answered.
"Not as beautiful as you." He looked at her solemnly, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
They separated and dressed once the light had faded. She could feel her magical core within herself for the first time; it had expanded, its depths untested. And if there was one thing Hermione hated, it was the unknown.
"Do you feel it?" she asked, turning to Draco.
He nodded. "It's deeper than before. I can feel the surge when I reach for it."
Just then, there was a timid knock on the library door.
"You warded it?"
"Yes, it must be my parents, anyone else wouldn't have been able to touch the door."
She gulped. She wasn't particularly scared of the Malfoys, but she had been tortured last time she was in their home and didn't wish to relive the experience anytime soon. Draco took her hand.
"We'll do it together, love," he said warmly. "I've got you."
He stepped towards the door, pulling her behind him as he opened it, wand drawn.
"Mother. Father."
"Draco!" Narcissa cried, as she ran forward only to be blocked by an invisible barrier. "What is this?" she asked, pressing her hands flat against it as she peered through into the library, Lucius looking in over her shoulder.
"I'm protecting my soulmate, Mother."
"Draco, you can't be serious!" Lucius snapped, eyes boring into Hermione's.
"Oh, Father, I assure you, I am very serious. We completed and sealed the bond."
"You tied your magic to her?" Lucius Malfoy sniffed disapprovingly.
"If they're bonded, she's family, Lucius. He'll come for them either way now, and us by association."
Lucius rolled his eyes, "When you're finished with this charade, I'll be in the drawing room."
"Not the drawing room." Hermione spoke up for the first time. Lucius looked at her for a long, calculating moment, then nodded once.
"The conservatory then," he said, turning sharply and disappearing down the corridor.
"You're sure? This is your path?" Narcissa asked Draco pointedly. He merely stared at her. "Understood, I'll see you when you're ready then."
"We will stand behind you," Narcissa assured them once they had finished their discussion in the conservatory several hours later. Draco had made it clear he would raze the world for her if she only asked, and Narcissa was unwilling to lose her only son regardless of the consequences.
Hermione smiled darkly at Draco. Given the deceptive nature of their plans, having Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy on their side would make it their game to lose. They would be able to take on the world with none the wiser until it was too late.
"We'll leave the details of the celebration to you then," she turned her gaze to Narcissa.
"Of course, Miss Granger, although I suppose we're both Mrs. Malfoy now." Narcissa smiled warmly at her, and Hermione couldn't detect one ounce of disingenuity. "I suppose you'll want to include gold somewhere in the decor though?"
Before she could answer, a loud crack split the room. Lucius stood quickly, moving to stand between their table and the door as a loud shrieking commenced. Hermione stood to face her tormentor, Bellatrix Lestrange, and her blood went cold. Draco, whether he had more tact than one might have assumed or if he could sense her change through their new magical connection, stepped in front of her quickly, reaching back to lace his fingers between hers while loosely holding his wand, though she could feel his tenseness in his grip on her hand.
"Well well, Draco. He won't be happy with you," Bella screeched, cackling.
"We're bonded, Bella," he snarled at her. "Back the fuck off."
"Wittle baby wants to play with his toy Mudblood?" she whined. "Fine, but you won't be sullying the family line!" She pulled her wand, shooting a stream of bright orange light directly towards Hermione.
"Avada Kedavra."
Bella dropped where she stood, the curse dying with her as Narcissa screamed.
"Draco! He will know it was you, and he will punish you harshly. She was his favorite," Lucius scolded.
"He can try." Draco turned to Hermione and ran a hand through her hair. "We are more." He pulled her into his arms, looking at his parents over her head, "Have them all here by midnight." And with that, he apparated them straight to his quarters in the manor, warding the room yet again from entry, as she let out a long breath and sunk onto the bed.
"It's okay love, she's gone and will never hurt you again," he soothed, pulling her back to his chest as he lay on the bed next to her. "No one will ever hurt you again."
At a quarter to midnight, the pair dressed in formal dress robes, Hermione pulling on a pair of high heeled boots Narcissa had suggested, and made their way downstairs. They could hear voices coming from inside the drawing room, and they knew that not one Death Eater would risk the wrath of the Dark Lord or Narcissa Malfoy in being one minute late to a meeting. As he disillusioned her, they heard a slithering coming from behind them, turning only to see Nagini making her way towards her master in the room beyond. She lifted her head off the floor and hissed at the pair of them, rearing back to strike at Draco.
Hermione, with a surge of her Gryffindor courage, made a split second decision and raised her knee, bringing her stiletto heel down on the neck of the snake, in one swift motion with a loud squelching sound as blood spurted up from the narrow hole.
"Did you just–" Draco broke off, flabbergasted. She shrugged.
"I never really liked snakes, you know," she said matter-of-a-factly.
He gaped at where she stood, still not quite able to see more than a faint shimmer of air.
"Let's go, we don't want to be late." She cast a quick cleansing charm on the floor, vanishing the body of the dead reptile.
Draco pulled open the door leading her into the darkened room. Hermione stayed close behind him, not wanting to give her presence away, but grinning to herself. The horcruxes were gone. It was just the man himself left, and, as she stepped into the room, she saw him.
"You have failed me."
The cold voice sent shivers down her spine, and the crowded room parted as Lord Voldemort stared down Draco.
"My Lord," he sunk into a low bow, "I do not know what magic that was or what happened. I did not intend to bring harm to you or the cause."
"Crucio!"
Draco screamed, and her magic roiled beneath her skin. She lifted her wand casting a silent net across the room, causing the Death Eaters around them to fall with the exception of her new family.
Voldemort looked around attempting to mask the confusion on his face.
"What is this?" he hissed, turning on the Malfoys.
Hermione lifted her disillusionment, and stepped forward into the glow of the single lamp lighting the center of the room. "You won't hurt him anymore," she stated calmly.
Voldemort laughed at her, high and cruel, and she smiled in response, raising her wand.
"Diffindo."
A clean slice appeared at the edge of the Dark Lord's neck, spreading until it cleanly cut through and his head rolled forward onto the table, eyes blank and staring, his mouth still frozen in his last laugh.
The four stood staring at what was left of the dark wizard who had terrorized the wizarding world for the last few decades.
"Well," drawled Lucius, ever the pragmatist, "should we get on with it and wake them?"
"Go ahead," said Hermione, levitating the body onto the table and taking the now vacant seat at the head of the table. At her nod, Draco revived the Death Eaters but left them unable to move.
"Hello," smiled Hermione darkly at the circle of wizards sitting at the table around her, before flitting her eyes over the less favored followers, now frozen on the floor. "I'm sure you all know who I am, so I'll make this quick. You can now refer to me as Lady Malfoy. My bonded and I will accept your allegiance."
She raised her wand. "Incendio," and Voldemort's body caught fire. "He is gone. But I am not. Draco is not."
Draco stepped forward at that. "You can bow or you can die." He released Rowle directly to the right of where he stood at Hermione's side.
"Rowle, choose."
The man in question stood, sinking to his knees at Draco's feet, and Draco held his hand out for his arm. Rowle held it up with little hesitation, and Draco made a small cut on his inner forearm, directly over the dark mark spilling the blood into a vial he pulled from beneath his robes and sealing the cut with a spell discovered during their bond research, designed similarly to the house-elf bonding magic.
Rowle stood and moved back to his seat, sitting with an expectant look at Hermione as he awaited the completion of the ritual.
Draco completed the same steps with the rest of the table, encountering no issues until he reached Dolohov.
"I won't submit to a mud-fucker and his pet cunt," Dolohov spat when Draco released him.
Draco shrugged, "Suit yourself. Avada Kedavra." And Dolohov fell to the floor where Hermione once more levitated the body to the table and set it aflame. They had no problems after Dolohov and every Death Eater fell in line as Draco quickly gathered the rest of the blood.
Once finished, he returned to Hermione's side, and together they placed their wands in the vial, drawing power from their bond as they completed the spell to bind the Death Eaters in service to the two of them.
She dropped a sack of fake galleons on the table, "Take one. And when I call, come." Then, grabbing hold of Draco in one hand and Voldemort's head in the other, she disapparated, leaving the Death Eaters to contemplate what they had just done.
She landed them in her childhood bedroom a moment later, dropping the head to the floor and sinking into the couch. The ritual had drained some of their magic, and she was exhausted.
"It's already warded with blood magic against any other beings," she explained.
"Why don't you rest, love? We can handle Potter and the rest tomorrow." She nodded as she slipped from her robes and sunk onto the bed.
The following morning, Hermione shrunk Voldemort's head and helped Draco prepare another vial for the ritual. They now had half the wizarding world effectively behind them, but if anything was to be learned from the past, that half wasn't particularly great at following directions or at winning wars.
"Expecto Patronum!" she cried, however it was not her usual otter that burst from her wand tip, but instead a large four-legged predator. A lioness.
She smirked at Draco, before directing the patronus, "Find Harry, tell him 'I'm okay and I'll meet him at Grimmauld in 20 minutes with good news.'" The cat took off at once, it's soft silvery glow fading after only a moment.
She gave Draco a once over, "You try casting it."
"I've never tried before," he muttered.
"Try anyway, your magic is definitely strong enough with the bond, and I have a hunch."
"Expecto Patronum!" he cried, and from the tip of his hawthorn wand sprang a matching pair to Hermione's lioness, the king of the jungle, a lion.
Hermione snickered, "How very Gryffindor of you."
"Oh, shut up," but there was no spite behind the words. They were bonded, a perfect match. A king and queen in their own rite. They just had to find their jungle.
The patronus circled them twice before settling down on the floor in front of the door and slowly dissipating.
They ate a simple breakfast out of provisions Hermione had found stashed in the kitchen, and stood side by side at the fireplace.
"It's connected to the floo," she said quietly, holding out a small box of glittering powder. "Give me twenty minutes then come through." She threw a handful of powder into the fire, calling out, "Grimmauld Place" before stepping into the emerald flames.
As she stepped out of the fire in the downstairs kitchen, she was greeted by two sets of arms being thrown around her.
"'Mione!" Ron's voice reached her first.
She extricated herself from their arms, stepping back and cleaning the soot off her jeans.
"What happened?" Harry asked
Ron's voice was a bit more hardened. "Tell me it's not true!"
She turned to face her old boyfriend, if you could even call him that, "Tell you what isn't true?" she asked, innocently.
"Tell me you're not soulmates with that Death Eater ferret!"
"Ronald!" she scolded, "you will not speak to me that way, and you will not call him that." She turned to Harry, ignoring Ron's angry spluttering. "I can explain it, but I want to show you something." She pulled out Voldemort's head and unshrunk it.
Harry gasped, and Ron went white.
"We did it."
"We?" She ignored Ron again, eyes turned solely to Harry, who looked a little green.
"Hear me out Harry. Please." He nodded, taking a seat at the table and indicating the one across from him, while Ron plopped himself down between them at the head of the table.
"Harry," she began, "I don't know how much you know of soul bonds…" When he shook his head, she launched into the story, bypassing some of the more salacious details of consummation and the unsavory bits of exactly what happened with the Death Eaters. When she had finished, he simply stared at her, mouth agape.
"Malfoy? You bonded with Malfoy?" Ron asked, face tomato red.
"Yes, Ron. He is my soulmate. My perfect magical second half. If we hadn't bonded, our magic would've rebelled from both of us, causing us to go insane."
"Well, that would've been better." She turned her head slowly, fingering her wand.
"It's a real shame you feel that way Ron. I think I'd like to talk to Harry alone now if you don't mind."
"Well, I do mind! Whatever you have to say to Harry you can say to me!"
She turned away from him, looking back to Harry who was staring at Ron now, but after a moment, he turned to meet her gaze.
"I helped you for seven years, Harry Potter. I've almost died for you multiple times, and I killed Voldemort for you. I'm cashing in." Harry paled, but she continued, "Draco is my soulmate. The bond is sealed. If you don't know what that means," she cut him off as he opened his mouth to ask a question, "go look in the library upstairs that I know you've never set foot in. But you owe me this. The wizarding world owes me this, and you will be supportive or so help me, Harry."
"You really want to be with him, Hermione? Think of everything he's done to you."
"Harry, I'd set the world on fire if it meant I could be with him." He looked like he was about to argue, but after a moment nodded.
"Okay, I will do the research, but if you're sure he's what you want and your magic needs him, you're right. You've been there for me, so I'll be there for you."
The floo activated. "Right on time," Hermione smiled. "He's here to meet you formally as my bonded mate." Harry looked as if he'd just swallowed something unpleasant but nodded, standing to face the fireplace as Draco stepped through.
"Sectum–" Ron never got the curse out before Hermione had him disarmed and bound to the chair.
"Hello, love," Draco said, walking to her and kissing her on the cheek. "Potter."
"Malfoy." Harry hesitated and then very slowly held out his hand for Draco to shake. He took it, though both let go rather quickly.
"Weasly," Draco sneered down at Ron. "Tell me, are you restrained because you can't imagine her with me? I can paint you a picture if you want."
"Duel me, then!" Ron shouted, "Coward. Only coming once I'm restrained!"
Harry turned, embarrassed for his friend. "Ron, we both owe this to Hermione," he said quietly.
"If he wants to duel, I'd be more than willing." Draco smirked. Neither of them knew that his magic was now double what it once was. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Ronald, stop. I'm not doing this with you. I have more important matters to deal with. You can either get on board or you can be collateral damage. Your choice. Draco is the only thing that matters anymore. Do you understand?" She said the last part very quietly, coming to stand directly in front of his face. He nodded, eyes wide.
"Good." She released his binds and unsilenced him. "One last thing, don't tell anyone that Voldemort is dead yet. I don't know what some of the Death Eaters would do, and I want to make the announcement to the Order myself." Harry nodded.
"Swear it, Potter," Harry turned surprised, but offered the wizard's oath for his secrecy. "You too, Weasley," Draco drawled. Ron made a face, hesitating.
"Do it, Ron," said Hermione calmly, handing Ron back his wand.
"I suppose we'll see you at the next Order meeting then on Friday," Hermione smiled, offering a halfhearted hug to Harry who nodded.
"Hermione," Harry called as she made to follow Draco back through the floo,"I'm happy you're happy."
"Thanks Harry! That means so much, honestly," she said, turning back and calling out Malfoy Manor under a silently cast Muffliato.
Once she stepped through the floo, she pulled her own master galleon out of her pocket, calling Lucius, Yaxley, and Rowle, waiting as they popped into existence in front of her one by one, slowly sinking into matching bows.
"Yes, my Lady?" Yaxley asked, repressing a sneer.
"Now Corban, I was just about to let you have some fun."
The three waited expectantly, watching her.
"Ron Weasley." She paused letting the name marinate through their minds. "I want him gone."
"Gone?" Rowle asked.
"Gone," she confirmed with a dark smile. "Artistic liberties are allowed, but you're to do it under his name." Even Lucius's eyes went wide at this. "In fact, why don't you utilize the Dark Mark when you're finished?"
"You called all three of us," Lucius started. "Surely you don't believe that it would take three fully qualified wizards to dispose of a teenager?" He asked in disbelief.
"We will work in pairs in this new world. Corban and Thorfinn can go together. If the mission is accomplished with no collateral, you will both be rewarded. If you fail, you will both suffer." The men gulped. "Do I make myself clear?"
They nodded.
"Then be on your way. I want Molly crying by Friday morning." The two immediately disapperated, and she was left alone with Lucius, who turned to her, curiosity written on his face.
"Lucius," she smiled, "I simply wanted your company, and perhaps to hear more about some of the old laws and your connections at the Wizengamot, if you have the time."
"For you my dear," he offered his arm for her to take, "I will always find the time."
"Hermione!"
Harry's voice was the first thing to rouse her from the depths of sleep on Friday morning as his patronus bounded into the room. "Ron's dead. Molly found him this morning. The things they did to him 'Mione–" his voice faltered. "Kingsley thinks we might be next. Be careful, I know Draco will protect you, but the rest of them, they're out for blood." She smirked, he wasn't wrong. "Just watch your back okay? I'll see you tonight at the meeting." The stag dissolved into nothingness and she looked over at Draco, still fast asleep beside her, his Sectumsempra scars on full display where he lay shirtless, mouth slightly agape. He really was beautiful.
"Good morning, my love," she cooed as she traced the edge of a scar near his collarbone, dragging her nails down toward his chest.
"Mmmm, morning." He smiled sleepily up at her, catching her wrist to pull her into a deep kiss, as he rolled them over. "Have I told you how beautiful you are in the morning?" His hand slid down her body to cup her sex, and he groaned. "Especially when you're wet for me."
Hermione's eyes rolled back as he pumped his finger into her before lining up his already hard cock and thrusting into her with a groan.
Once they were both spent Draco rolled off of her, pulling her back to his chest.
"Today's the day, love," Draco whispered against her skin. "Are you ready?" She steeled herself and nodded.
"We already talked about this. It's the only way."
"A few last minute hours of research couldn't hurt though," she said grinning at the look on his face. "I'll meet you in the library."
Hermione stretched and stood from her table in the Manor library, waving her wand to send the open books back to their respective shelves.
"Is it time already?" Draco looked up from his own large tome. She nodded.
"Do you have the vial?" He pulled it from his pocket and handed it to her.
"If you're not back in three hours, I'm coming after you."
"I know, love." Hermione smiled at her mate. "I'll come back to you. No one will ever keep me from returning to your side."
"I can't wait to rule the world with you, my love." She made her way around the table, leaning down to kiss him hungrily.
"Soon, Draco. Soon."
She dressed quickly, choosing her jeans and an old Gryffindor jumper that used to be Harry's before flooing to Grimmauld.
"Hermione!"
"'Mione!"
Harry and Ginny's voices assaulted her the moment she stepped through the fire.
"Thank Merlin they didn't get you too!" Molly cried as she pulled Hermione into a tight hug, sobbing into her shoulder as Hermione stood there somewhat awkwardly.
She extricated herself. "Yes, I heard this morning, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Weasley," she said, offering the woman a somber look.
"We were all so worried, I know we should have expected some kind of retaliation, but who knew it would come so soon," the older woman explained before she began crying in earnest.
"I'm a little surprised they left the rest of us alone though," commented Mr. Weasley.
"I believe they wanted to send a message." Kingsley followed his deep voice into the room. "Miss Granger," he inclined his head, "it's good to see you alive and well."
"Thanks Kingsley. Likewise," she nodded to him. "Although maybe we should get started since all of us can't be here." He gave her a searching look.
"Very well."
The Order of the Phoenix, or what was left of it, gathered around the table in the kitchen. Harry, the Weasleys now consisting of Charlie, Bill, Fleur, George, as well as the matriarch and patriarch of the family and even Ginny had finally been allowed in, she noticed. They were joined by Kingsley, McGonagall, Neville and Luna, and Aberforth.
"Is this it?" she asked incredulously.
Kingsley nodded slowly. "We lost many in the battle. And there are a few who didn't wish to be as integral to the planning."
"Well, if I can have your word you won't speak of this to anyone outside this room?"
She waited on every person around the table to nod in agreement, before making her announcement.
"Voldemort is dead." She was met with silence, disbelief written on every face but Harry's. "I killed the snake and was there when his head was severed."
When there were no questions, she continued, "I believe that's why the Death Eaters went after Ron. They likely couldn't find Harry or I behind such strong wards."
"And where were you exactly?" asked Arthur.
"Malfoy Manor," she paused,"I know some of you may have suspected, but Draco Malfoy is my soulmate."
The room fell into chaos, Ginny yelling unintelligible words at her through the din.
"Quiet!" Harry's shout broke through the noise as everyone turned to look at him.
"Hermione didn't choose this. But he's her mate. And they've uhm, bonded," he turned bright pink at the words, and Hermione knew he'd taken her advice and looked up what it meant to be soul-bonded. "She's still on our side, and really, who she's bonded to doesn't much matter, especially now that Voldemort is gone. Malfoy will support and protect her as much as any of us would."
He was met with another round of silence until George stepped into his old limelight to break it. "Hermione, I don't like the git, but if he'll make you happy, then why does it matter to the rest of us?"
Hermione smiled at him. She'd always liked the twins, even when they were constantly breaking rules and pushing boundaries during fifth year. She wasn't expecting to have an additional ally in the mix and was glad for the support.
"Can we just get started then?" Kingsley asked, clearly annoyed she'd disturbed the meeting for something less than crucial to the cause. He, followed by everyone else, took their seats as he pulled out several scrolls of parchment from his robes.
With a slight twitch of her finger and a spark of wandless magic, the first scroll slipped on his finger as he unfurled it, causing a sizable paper cut along his thumb.
"Here Kingsley," Hermione said quickly, a false brightness to her voice, siphoning the blood with her wand directly into the hidden vial in her pocket, while sealing his wound with the same spell Draco had used on the Death Eaters during the ritual. She had practiced the movement until it resembled no more than an ordinary stitching spell for large cuts.
"Thanks," he responded gruffly, quickly turning back to the meeting.
Hermione managed to sit quietly through the meeting until Kingsley brought up the recent Wizengomot promotions, naming Dolores Umbridge the new chief witch.
"Excuse me?" she gasped out.
"Not that cow!" Ginny huffed, earning a glare from her mother.
"She somehow managed to be elected during the last week," Kingsley explained. "But those positions are very difficult to overturn. Typically they are lifetime appointments, only being vacated upon voluntary retirement or death."
Hermione's mind began to whirl. Umbridge would not stand in her way. She smirked to herself as she remembered how their last altercation had ended and vaguely wondered where the nearest centaur herd lived.
The moment she stepped through the floo back at the Manor, she was swept into warm arms, and apparated up to Draco's bedroom, where they had been staying together since the battle. His lips covered hers as he made quick word of their clothing, levitating the vial of blood safely onto the dresser.
"How was the meeting?" He asked slyly as he kissed down her body, fingers rubbing circles into her thighs.
"It was fine," she sighed. "It's frustrating, every time we get close there's another barrier."
His tongue had finally reached the apex of her thighs and she sighed, still not able to relax as he slid one finger inside her heat.
"What do you desire, my love? Tell me, and it's yours. I will bring you the moon if you only ask."
"The head of Dolores Umbridge."
"Consider it done," he said quietly, pulling himself up to kiss her forehead, as he slid two of his fingers inside her, finally forcing a groan of pleasure from her lips.
The days passed as Hermione busied herself reading up on bonds, and other strange magics while she waited on Lucius, until one morning her usual thoughts were interrupted at breakfast by Draco, setting a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of her tea.
New Chief Witch: Dolores Umbridge, Found Dead in Her Home
The headline greeted her, and she looked up to see Draco grinning broadly at her.
"I do love you so," she giggled at him.
"Murder really seems to bring out the best in you," he snickered.
"It's no less than she deserved. They all deserve it."
"That they do." He leaned down to plant a kiss on her mouth as Lucius walked in, clearing his throat.
"Though I know your mother is eager to have young children running around the Manor once more, I do ask you keep it away from our breakfast table." Hermione rolled her eyes, waiting. He typically took breakfast in his study, so he'd only have come down if he had news.
"Well?" she prompted him.
"It's done."
"Excellent." She beamed at him.
"I'll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing. Be sure to let your mother know when new robes will need to be ordered."
Once she and Draco had celebrated the good news, she went to visit Harry, explaining the new law and a Gryffindor-friendly version of her plan to him.
"Harry, it'll be better for the wizarding world. It will bring some much needed stability, and as a muggleborn, there's very little chance for the old prejudiced ways to resurface even with Malfoy involved," she explained when he still wasn't convinced.
"I suppose you're right. I'll be there to support you, 'Mione.. Just promise me you know what you're doing."
"I promise Harry. It'll all work out."
Lucius had made the appointment for several days after making sure the old law was firmly in place, and when the time came, Hermione and Draco stood side-by-side outside the doors to the hearing room, dressed in regal looking robes of pure black, trimmed with a silver and gold brocade.
A young wizard appeared, opening the door from the inside and directing them towards the center of the room.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, welcome." An unidentified warlock sat in the center of the chamber surrounded by his Wizengamot colleagues. "I think the best course of action would be to get started, as I believe you have a detailed case to bring forth, yes?"
Hermione nodded once as she and Draco walked forward to sit in the chairs at the very center of the room, sans chains, she noticed with relief.
"I call to attention this session of the Wizengamot," he called, slamming his gavel down on the desk in front of him. "Miss Granger, you have the floor." He sat back expectantly as she stood, eyes searching the crowd until she found Harry, who smiled in encouragement.
''Thank you, Chief Warlock." She stood coming around to stand directly in the center of the floor, taking up the space she was long overdue. "I am here today to bring attention to a piece of ancient and forgotten magic. If I can direct your attention to the Wizarding Statues and Regulations for the Ministry of Magic, Article 18, Section 12, Subsection 6, Part 3: Soulbonds." She indicated the magically projected manual before continuing, "You can see here it states that though the true soulbond is extremely rare, the complexity and impact of the sealed bond on the individual's magic, those individuals, should they exist and seal the bond, can be rightfully enstated as the monarchs of the wizarding world, as once was thousands of years ago."
She paused, looking around at the flabbergasted faces of the court members.
"You may be wondering why I'm telling you this. I'm sure you've all heard the rumors. They are true. Draco Malfoy and I have sealed our soulbond."
"And we have come to claim what is rightfully ours." Draco finished, having come to stand next to her.
"You want us to appoint you King and Queen?" asked a witch with long dark hair in the second row. "A couple of teenagers?" she laughed, joined by a few others.
"We're asking you to follow your own laws," ground out Draco.
"Or we'd be happy to demonstrate just why that law was written into existence in the first place," Hermione pointed out sweetly.
"And how does the Minister feel about being ousted like this?" shouted a wizard from the back of the crowd.
The room quieted as Kingsley got to his feet. Hermione's hand twitched slightly.
"They are in their right to bring it forth. This is the law. I will gracefully step aside and be available as a consultant if needed. But let me be the first to say, long live the queen! Long live the king!"
A small smile played across Hermione's face as she observed the crowd, quite obviously having been expecting a different reaction.
Before the noise could build again, a second voice cried out, "Long live the queen! Long live the King!" Harry continued standing as he finished, allowing everyone in the room to see his verbal support.
"Very well," muttered the Chief Warlock. "All in favor of reinstating the wizarding monarchy to the soul-bound?"
Several hands went up, then more, then a few more, until a clear majority stood straight in the air.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger-"
She cut him off, "Mrs. Granger-Malfoy if you'd be so kind."
"Of course, Mrs. Granger-Malfoy, please step forward."
They turned as one to face the crowd, to face the Wizengemot, ready to be crowned as King and Queen, the first monarchy to take hold of wizarding Britain in centuries.