Chapter 8, Infragilis Vinculum
"speech" – speech
^speech^ - parseltongue
speech – no-verbal speech
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Harry didn't need to catch the Hogwarts Express. As a teacher's charge he was able to go straight to Hogwarts, however, he had promised Ron and Hermione. It was about a quarter to eleven when he secured the last compartment on the train. They had planned to meet there. As he waited for them he read over his Magical Theory notes.
At five to eleven there was a knock on the compartment door. Harry opened the door to find Hermione and Ron waiting for him.
"All right there mate?" Ron grinned.
Harry couldn't help but smile in return, "Yes, and your self?" Harry was surprisingly formal with his speech and his manner. The Durselys would have punished him it he so much as stuttered on a word.
"Right," Ron cheered as he moved aside to let Hermione in first.
Harry knew the motion wasn't a sign of politeness, Ron never entered a room without someone going first, safety reasons he said.
Hermione gave him a bright smile and a quick pat on his shoulder as she passed him. Once the three of them were seated Ron sighed.
"Sorry to so blunt but, are we going to do this?" He asked.
Harry ran through his thoughts once more, he was hesitant but willing to bond with both students so he nodded. Beside him Hermione also nodded her approval. Ron pulled out his mokeskin purse. He laid his knife and a small bowl on the empty seat beside him.
Harry had read through the ritual many times. Infragilis Vinculum was one of the most basic rituals you could perform. (1) The process included a small reciting of a spell and then a mixing of blood. Harry decided to take the initiative a spoke first,
"Blood of the chosen, to prove my willingness," Harry chanted.
Ron passed him the knife and he made a small incision in the back of his hand. Harry allowed the blood to drip slowly into the bowl. Ron took the knife back.
"Faith of the chosen, to prove my trust," Harry said slowly letting the magic settle in his mind. It was a strange feeling that he didn't like but Harry gritted his teeth and allowed the magic free access.
Before Ron could start speaking Hermione repeated his lines and snatched the knife. Her cut was a little deeper but still slow dripping. He watched as Hermione closed her eyes, trusting the magic completely.
Ron went next. His cut was the shallowest and he didn't even seem to notice the intrusion in his mind. However he gave the whispered order that they were waiting for,
"Now…"
The three of the chanted in sync, "Infragilis Vinculum," and a bright light engulf them. (2)
After the shining light disappeared Harry's head was throbbing.
Oww… this is a pain. Can either of you hear me?
It was Ron. Harry didn't know how he knew, after all the thought didn't sound like anything let alone like Ron's voice, he just did.
Yeah, I can hear you. It's hurting my head, Hermione replied.
Same, Harry sent. He knew that he could speak to Hermione and Ron via his mind but that he had to consciously want to.
Ron spoke aloud, "Our minds have to adjust to the bond. We should be right soon."
Harry sighed, "Well okay then."
There was a soft silence. It wasn't awkward just uncomfortable. It was clear that they were all feeling the strain of their recent bond.
"I did it," Hermione whispered at last. Harry figured that she was trying to get their minds off the pain, "I managed to spell my parents. They didn't fight at all for a whole week. I'm sure that it worked, they had a polite conversation this morning."
Ron smiled at her, "That's good. And you did fifth year magic, I'm impressed."
Harry nodded, wincing at the sharp pain, "It's great. Ron what spells did you learn?"
Ron sighed, "Unlocking jinx, banishing jinx, bedazzling hex, bluebell flames, body-bind curse, blasting curse, confoundus charm, defensive charm, conjunctivitis curse, severing charm and the shield charm. Everything else was either in the first or second year textbooks or basic defensive magic that will be taught in DADA anyway."
Hermione sighed, "I thought you said that you learnt the disarming charm?"
Ron frowned, "Like I said first year DADA. Course if the set book is anything to go by then the teacher is incompetent and won't teach us anything."
Hermione pouted, "You don't really think that, do you?"
Harry interrupted before they could fight, "Think Hermione weren't there teachers that worked to slowly or didn't explain things right at primary school?" Hermione nodded, "So there would be teachers like that in the magical world too."
Hermione looked aghast, "I thought things would be different."
Ron nodded, "No matter what they say, it is the same world. Wizards are just as bad as muggles."
Hermione looked down cast.
"Don't worry," Ron said, "That's why we are learning these things on our own, so that we know they are correct. Think of class as revision, it tells you what basics you need to know for life."
Hermione sighed, "I guess that Ravenclaw would suit us just as well as Slytherin then." That was a point that they had touched on in their letters, they agreed that they were obvious Slytherins.
Harry sat up a little, "I wanted to talk about that. I don't think we should be in Slytherin."
Ron frowned again, "Why not?"
Harry sighed, "We'll get eaten in there. Face it they would only see us as a muggle-born, a blood traitor and the boy-who-lived. I don't think we'd get a good reception, besides a lot of the children in that house are only Death-Eater, Slytherin-wannabes. True Slytherins would be sorted into another house, to live under cover. Getting sorted into your true house practically shouts to the world your character. No teacher will trust Slytherin students now would they?"
Hermione nodded, "That is right. If we were Ravenclaws then it wouldn't be strange for us to be in the library all the time. No one would think twice."
"Or in Gryffindor, we could roam the school at night with only the excuse that we were curious," Ron added.
Harry grinned, "In Hufflepuff we would be completely overlooked, surrounded by loyal people and our closeness wouldn't be questioned."
Hermione smirked, "So which house?"
Ron quickly suggested Gryffindor again. Harry knew this was because Ron didn't want to lose his new found closeness with is brother, Percy.
Harry shook his head, "Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff would be best. I'd say Hufflepuff but I'll let you both decide."
Hermione and Ron gave it a lot of thought.
"Ravenclaw," Hermione said at length, "Hogwarts a History mentions that they have their own library."
Ron nodded, "I agree. The problem with Hufflepuff is that if we are too scholarly or top of the class then we won't get a minutes rest, people would expect us to help because of fair play," Ron sneered the last part. None of the trio believed that fair play existed. (3)
Harry snorted, "Great Ravenclaws we are! Hopefully we can talk the Hat into it, shouldn't be hard with our love of knowledge."
Hermione grinned, "Knowledge is power."
Harry smirked, "Which reminds me I've refined my magical theory notes, here take a look." He made to pass them to Hermione but Ron stooped him.
"Use your mind to transfer the knowledge to us," Ron said.
Harry blinked in shock but eventually closed his eyes and concentrated on his notes;
Magic can be reflected, countered, avoided and transformed but never created nor destroyed. Magic is solely intention and power, if you have the ability all spells are relative. Magic has limits within healing, knowledge. Magic cannot create life, love, wealth, nutrition or knowledge. Also anything created or changed by magic is of poorer quality and ephemeral.
Harry could feel his bond mates processing this knowledge. When he retracted his thoughts from the link he realised that his head no longer hurt, it appeared that Ron was right.
"If magic is intention and power then why do we have wands?" Hermione said, grounding him.
Harry shrugged, "Control maybe or a way to allow a person to focus? Either way I don't use a wand anymore."
Harry pulled out the wand in his pocket and snapped it in half. Hermione gasped. He showed her the filled in core.
"It is just a wooden stick I bought and carved," Harry explained, "I knew that if I used a wand to much I would become dependent on it so I switched them. I need to at least look like I use a wand in class."
Harry cast a wandless reparo at the wood and it fixed. Harry let out a small sigh of discomfort. Having pure magic flow through your arm was a strange, almost painful feeling.
"Do you think we should use fake wands?" Ron asked eagerly.
"Yes," Harry nodded, "I got fake wood for all three of us. Hermione here is your Vinewood and Ron I didn't know what wand you got so I got you Oak, I thought it fit your personality."
Ron nodded, "I'll have to use my Ash wand at home though."
They took their new 'wands' and smiled. The rest of the trip was spent sharing knowledge. By the time the train stopped Harry was having trouble keeping from smiling. That was too much fun.
Hermione, Harry and Ron were waiting in the entrance hall for Professor McGonagall (who showed caring but obvious superiority on her face) to come back. Feeling nervous Ron slipped his left hand into Harry's right and his right into Hermione's left.
Ron knew as soon as he had seen Hermione crying, and later when he saw Harry hurry to apologise, that these two lived harsher lives than him. He knew that if he was to learn compassion like Percy said that he would have to understand others like them so they became his targets for allies. Now that the bond was in place he knew he made the right choice and that was confirmed when they both squeezed his hands back.
At that moment a blond boy walked up to them.
"Hello again Harry, who are they?" the boy said indicating at Ron and Hermione.
Ron searched his face and saw not the arrogance and indifference that the boy pushed forth but the hidden surfaces. He had learnt this talent by watching Fred and George, who were experts, lie to his mother. The blond boy held awe, jealousy and self-loathing deep in his grey blue eyes.
Scanning the boy's appearance and finding that he wore light expensive clothes and silken robes he figured that he was a rich pureblood. By the features he associated a name, Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy was almost his father's nemesis, the reason for their enmity was unknown, and Ron was unsure as to how to approach the carefully guarded boy before him. In the end Ron settled for doing nothing although it made him uncomfortable.
Harry stiffened, "Hello Draco. These are my friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Ron, Hermione, this is my friend Draco Malfoy."
Malfoy, so his guess was right. Ron knew better than to question the use of friendship on Malfoy, the boy's jealously would lash if he did. For now the boy looked smug at the title.
"I've never heard of the Granger family," Malfoy said coolly.
Ron could see where this was going. Both his friends tightened their grip on him.
"So Malfoy, what house do you think you will be in?" Ron diverted. It worked the boy's mind switched to the new topic.
"Slytherin, I suppose a Weasley like you would be a Gryffindor," Malfoy sneered.
The words held no bite. Ron knew they were an attack to encourage Harry to be Malfoy's friend and to give Malfoy a feeling of superiority. All it did was first make Ron pity Malfoy and then laugh at how wrong the boy was. Ron caught the smirk Hermione gave him.
"Sorry no, I'm going to be a Ravenclaw just like Harry and Hermione," He said swiftly, "I hope we can be friends Malfoy."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow at Harry, "Raveclaw? I got the impression that you wanted to be a Slytherin."
Harry smirked at him, "Maybe I changed my mind."
Ron watched anger, betrayal and jealousy flit in those eyes before they settled back on their usual self-loathing. He wondered vaguely why Malfoy was so possessive over Harry. Malfoy would have retaliated if McGonagall hadn't chosen then to return.
Ron hadn't noticed until then the pale ghosts that were floating above their heads. McGonagall shooed them away and ushered the first years into the hall via a line. Ron was behind Harry and in front of Hermione.
The hall was a thing of wonder and Ron had to disguise his awe. Harry was showing indifference, having seen the hall before, and Hermione was gob-smacked. He noted the contrast amusedly. At last Harry's eyes fell to the ratted Hat. Figuring what it was for he smirked at the thought that Fred and George were toying with him, not that he didn't already know.
The Hat went through sorting students. When the name "Granger, Hermione" was called the three stiffened. Hermione reluctantly stepped up to the hat. After a few nerve-racking minutes it called out "Ravenclaw"and Hermione went to sit at the table of blue.
The boy Draco Malfoy did indeed go to Slytherin. Ron never doubted that the boy was a Slytherin. He seemed to encompass everything Slytherin in one breath. Dark, Pureblood, Arrogant, Self-loathing, ambitious and cunning, he hated himself yet still felt entitled to things others wouldn't. Ron clapped along with the Slytherin table and Harry. (4)
When McGonagall called, "Potter, Harry," the dining hall broke into whispers. Ron gave Harry's hand a comforting squeeze and let him go. Harry showed no emotion as he let the Hat fall past his ears. It was a few seconds before it sent him to Ravenclaw.
When Ron took his turn to step up the Hat barely brushed his head when it screamed, "Ravenclaw." Ron slipped into a seat beside Hermione. Harry gave him a grin across from him and they turned to watch Blaise Zambini get sorted into Slytherin. Harry sent him a list of students and their houses-
Brown, Lavender -Gryffindor
Finnigan, Seamus - Gryffindor
Thomas, Dean - Gryffindor
Longbottom, Neville - Gryffindor
Patil, Parvati– Gryffindor
Moon, Lilly – Gryffindor
Perks, Sally-Anne – Gryffindor
Cornfoot, Stephen - Gryffindor
Boot, Terry- Ravenclaw
Brocklehurst, Mandy - Ravenclaw
Corner, Michael - Ravenclaw
Goldstein, Anthony- Ravenclaw
McDougal, Morag - Ravenclaw
Patil, Padma - Ravenclaw
Turpin, Lisa– Ravenclaw
Granger, Hermione– Ravenclaw
Potter, Harry– Ravenclaw
Weasley, Ronald "Ron"– Ravenclaw
Abbott, Hannah- Hufflepuff
Bones, Susan - Hufflepuff
Finch-Fletchley, Justin - Hufflepuff
Hopkins, Wayne - Hufflepuff
Jones, Megan - Hufflepuff
Macmillan, Ernie– Hufflepuff
Li, Su – Hufflepuff
Entwhistle, Kevin – Hufflepuff
Bulstrode, Millicent- Slytherin
Crabbe, Vincent - Slytherin
Davis, Tracey - Slytherin
Goyle, Gregory- Slytherin
Greengrass, Daphne - Slytherin
Malfoy, Draco - Slytherin
Nott, Theodore - Slytherin
Parkinson, Pansy - Slytherin
Zabini, Blaise– Slytherin (5)
The hall quietened for the Headmasters speech.
(1) Infragilis Vinculum means 'unbreakable bond' in Latin
(2) The ritual is really simple, that's why it is used as an example in the first year textbook. I also want to point out that the reason that even though the ritual is ridiculously easy but is not a commonly used spell is because most people are not going to bind themselves to others. I'm thinking that a lesser powered version of this ritual is used in wizarding marriage. More details will become apparent later.
(3) They are basing their house assumptions on books and what Ron hears from his brothers.
(4) Yes I did focus a little too much on Draco. I won't do it too much from now on. Draco is a favourite of mine and I wanted to enforce the way he will be represented. Draco isn't a good or bad character but he will play a major role eventually.
(5) This list is ALMOST canon. Moon has no name (Lil and Li were suggested though so I used Lilly) or house as did Sally-Anne. Cornfoot and Entwhistle and Li, Su were all down for Ravenclaw but that would give Ravenclaw too many students so I moved them. Other than that the list is canon! Also I posted the whole thing because it DOES relate to my current plans. I might post a blood status table too.
Full credit to Muxi who suggested that they were "Hufflepuffs with a dark purpose" I switched it to Ravenclaw for convenience. Originally I had them as not having a house; I had thought to make the bond unable to allow the Sorting Hat into their minds but that idea of mine got chucked as it was too similar to another idea in "Do-Over" which is another fan-fiction of mine.
I know that was a sharp cut off but I had to end it there. I want to do the fest from the point of view of Hermione and this chapter is already so much longer than the others. Also I have wasted too much assignment time on this.
Next chappie will be the Fest, settling into the dorm and first day! Please review!