Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter story or characters. I do, however, reserve the rights for any characters I develop and the plot of this story.

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Harry Potter and the Veela Life Debt

By Jojobevco

Chapter 5

Hermione and Ron

Harry moved aside and allowed Hermione and Ron to enter. They moved over to the couch and sat down. Harry sat in the lounge-chair and Gabrielle sat on the arm, leaning against him. Finally, Hermione gained control of her emotions.

"Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry for everything I said yesterday. I just really wasn't thinking, all I could see was slavery, which of course was all I could see with house-elves, because of a singular instance with that stiff jerk Crouch," she started sobbing again, "and because of that I've lost my first friend."

Lost her first friend, what in Merlin's name was she talking about? Harry looked to Ron for an explanation.

Ron noticed this, "hey, don't look at me mate, this is all Hermione's thing, I come in later and besides, the last time I opened my mouth I ended up almost ruining our friendship, and making an arse out of myself."

"Fine then, Hermione, why do you think you've lost your first friend?"

"Well, I acted completely out of line and like a horrible friend yesterday, so I understand." She was still crying, this was very hard on her.

Surprisingly, it was not Harry who comforted Hermione, but instead Gabrielle.

"Hermione, friends have disagreements all the time. You will not lose Harry's friendship because of a simple argument. Nor will you lose his friendship because of me. Harry will still need you," she turns to Ron, "and you as well, Ron. You three have always been together, for the most part, you have always been there for each other. Besides, Harry needs a rather uncomplicated relationship."

Hermione nodded and Harry, who was very confused about this whole mess, decided to interject, "Um, Hermione, I don't want to lose your friendship, but last I remember you hated my guts. So would you mind telling me where this change of heart came from."

"Well, it all started yesterday when..."

Flashback to yesterday.

Hermione curled up in her favorite chair in the Gryffindor Common Room, and pulled one of the books Professor Dumbledore had handed her and started reading. After having finished it, she was shocked. She had, been so misguided by her own opinions that she had gone into a situation without fully comprehending it.

Harry had no choice in accepting the bond. Well, he did, but he obviously wasn't going to let anything happen to Gabrielle. Apparently the punishment for rejecting the bond varied based on how serious the issue that formed the bond was and how strong the bond was at the time. The range itself was varied from a severe case of dementia to something similar to the effect of the Dementor's Kiss.

The bond itself was not like slavery. It didn't force Gabrielle to do something, instead, it changed her so that she and Harry would connect to each other, that she would love and serve him, while he loved and protected her. It was complicated but beautiful.

"...and after that I considered if I was wrong about that, what else could I have been mistaken about..."

Hermione then opened up one of the books that the Headmaster had given her about house-elves. After having finished it, she realized how much of an idiot she had been. She hated being vilified by the wizarding world. So when she saw something so thoroughly backward, she jumped at the opportunity to show them how stupid they were.

However, once again, she was wrong. It turns out that house-elves couldn't be free. Their service to wizards is necessary for their survival. They draw off of a wizards magic and are servants in exchange. That part was necessary. However, House-elves could be treated better. She would have to talk to the Headmaster about that.

Harry then looked over to Ron, "well, what's your story."

"Well, I was in the Common Room, um, answering people's questions."

"What questions?"

"Honestly, Ron," she turned to Harry, "He was telling everyone about how he saved you and Gabrielle from the lake, really the attention getter this one," she jerked her finger at Ron.

"Oh, I don't mind. Anything that keeps the attention off of me and Gabrielle is a good thing. Keep up the good work, Ron."

Ron smirked at Hermione, who glowered. Harry interrupted this little victory parade

"Now what were you saying, Ron?"

"Oh, right, well anyway Professor McGonagall came down after talking to you and announced to the whole house that 'due to a medical condition' you and Gabrielle would be living together in one of the married students' suites. After she left, Hermione noted that I was rather agitated by this, so she talked some sense into me..."

Another Flashback to yesterday.

Ron was very annoyed, Harry Bloody Potter! Always got what he wanted! Always! He had the fame, the riches, and now all this special treatment! Why? Just for something stupid he did as a baby

He then noticed Hermione walking over to him. Angry, at him.

"Ron, we need to talk?"

"Ok, so let's talk."

"Not, here you git, in your dorm."

After they arrived in the dorm, Hermione had him sit down and explained a few things to him.

"Ron, today, when Harry saved Gabrielle from the lake, a bond was formed between them. They've been put together, permanently. It's a Veela Life Debt."

"A what?"

"Veela Life Debts are different from the life debts wizards have with each other. If a certain set of conditions are met, the Veela is bonded to the wizard, for life."

"You mean like a slave?"

"NO! Don't make the same mistake I did! It changes her, it makes her want to love and serve him."

"But still it ends up the same, Harry having a girl on his beck and call all the time, Harry Bloody Potter always getting everything."

"...Then Hermione really started tearing into me..."

"Ronald Billus Weasley! Will you kindly get your head out of your arse and listen! Harry has to care for Gabrielle, provide for her, act as her guardian, and he's only. Secondly, stop whining about the room, do you really want a girl sleeping in your dorm?

And finally, keep in mind that this is Harry's best chance to get what he wants that you've always had, a family! Harry doesn't want to be rich or famous, the only reason why he is rich and famous is because of his parents dying."

Hermione started sobbing here, "Oh, Ron, it was horrible, I said some terrible things to Harry, and now I might have lost him as a friend."

Ron held her and comforted her.

"I've already turned my back on Harry once this year, I'm not going to do it again."

Hermione now turned to Harry who walked over and hugged the both of them.

"You two were my first friends, I love you both, and yes, I forgive you Hermione, although there is nothing to forgive. And thank you for sticking by me in this difficult time."

Now that everyone was happy again, they prepared to turn the conversation to more pleasant subjects. However, a large, noble owl swopped in to the room and dropped a rather letter in Harry's lap. Harry turned it over and saw that it was from Gringotts.

Damn, Harry thought, will this day never end?

Congratulations to Chi Vayne for correctly guessing the obscure reference 'halfway house for reformed Succubi' in the last chapter referred to The Middleman, a now canceled, yet excellently written science fiction show on ABC Family