Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credit to J.K Rowling for the creation of the Harry Potter universe. I just found a plot for this ship.

Warning: Rated M. The story will NOT contain rape or sexual violence. Lemons and fluff expected. Basically what you would expect from most romance novels nowadays.
There will also be the use of profanity.

Music speaks to my muse.
This chapters song was: Gift Of a Thistle, Braveheart Soundtrack, James Horner Piano Cover, Ioannis Pane
(I had to find it on youtube, but this piece of music set to piano is awe-inspiring, James Horner is a genius.)

Charmed to You

Chapter 13
The Bonding

Draco grunted as he watched his bride rush off. "I am off to get the Weasley's. Father can you get the ministry wizard?"

His father nodded but frowned still watching Hermione walk off. "There are people who wish to be witnesses, it isn't unheard of and it's a great honor, so I said yes."

Draco frowned at his father. "Who?"

His mother gave his father a short warning look and said carefully. "The minster, the Wizengamot, and a few elderly wizards you wouldn't know. Also the French and Russian Ministers of Magic, as well as some very important people from other Ministries around Europe."

Draco looked shocked. "Excuse me? How will you fit all of those people in that small of a room?"

His mother sighed and said in a whisper. "Really, Draco?"

Draco snorted rubbing the back of his neck as he realized that was honestly not going to be a problem with a bunch of wizards hanging around. His ring was burning and he felt his brides anxiety rising.

"Mother this was supposed to be a sacred, private ceremony."

His father made a clicking sound. "Draco this is the first time it's been performed in memory and we could not insult half of Europe's elite. It's a great honor that they want to witness this bonding."

Draco sighed realizing that he was going to be unable to argue this. "Fine, I better go warn my bride."

His mother nodded looking a bit concerned. "Will we need to give her a calming drought?"

Draco snorted. "I bloody hope not," he shook his head in disgust and stormed off.

OoOooO

He was calm by the time he reached Hermione's side, after letting the Weasley's know it was time and the circumstances of how things had changed. Molly had looked appalled while Arthur Weasley had sighed muttering he had been afraid that something like this would happen. Draco was annoyed he hadn't thought of it himself, but he honestly had assumed they could keep their damn bonding private, he was internally berating himself for not knowing better. But as he met his bride he smiled and shook hands with people and then turned to wrap his arm around her waist and glide her out of the room. The singer had left and now there was a band setting up to continue the party. He saw most of the Muggles yawning and realized that the house elves were probably hurrying them all along. Hermione's parents seemed unaffected, they were having an engaging conversation with Bill and Fleur Weasley.

Hermione let out a quiet sigh as they made the hall and then grunted as she pulled him to a stop. "If I walk in these shoes anymore tonight, I will never have the same feet again."

Draco watched as she took off the flats that had not been any more comfortable than her heels and then glared at them before tossing them onto a cushioned bench.

Draco chuckled as they disappeared.

She nodded and said softly. "Thank you, Niffy."

They made their way to the stairs and Draco helped her up, holding her dress so she didn't trip. He stopped at the door to the room she had been in last night. She looked up at him her eyes a bit too bright. He sighed and reached up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. He missed the veil she had been wearing, she had been so beautiful today, she still was actually.

He watched her bite her lip and felt his ring burn and then smiled as passion overwhelmed him, his and hers. "I am married to you and haven't kissed you," she said in a hushed voice.

He nodded. "I know. I get to kiss you after this ceremony."

She let out a small sigh and pulled back but he held onto her realizing he needed to warn her that the plans had changed.

"Hermione."

She looked up her eyes wide and he swallowed hating that he was about to frighten or worry her.

"A lot of people approached my father asking to be at our binding ceremony."

She frowned. "I thought it was just the witnesses?"

He gave a small shrug. "As did I, but apparently a few other people feel the need to bear witness to this."

He watched as her brow puckered with confusion and then she nodded slowly her eyes going dark. His ring burned and now he felt irritation instead of anger and he knew she understood. She was incredibly bright, his witch.

"It's become political, hasn't it? Our bonding?"

Draco nodded and said slowly. "I imagine it domino'd that way, yes. Our minister will be there, the French and Russian Ministers, some important wizards older than time, the Wizengamot-"

She cut him off her face going a bit pale. "And then you couldn't offend other important people by not including them?"

Draco inclined his head. "Yes."

She shook her head and suddenly looked tired. "Okay, thank you for warning me."

Draco nodded and then stepped back allowing her to move into the room. "I will see you in a half hour. Niffy will be assisting you and Molly will come to collect you."

She nodded and shut the door.

Draco sighed as his ring burned. Disappointment. He turned around with his hands in his pocket and walked out more frustrated than he had been in living memory.

OoOOooOooO

Hermione looked in the mirror and couldn't stop her soft gasp of surprise. She was in a crystal blue robe with bare feet and had a wreath of gardenias in her hair. She frowned as she looked closer and realized that small blue flowers were intermixed.

She gasped. "Cornflowers!"

Niffy nodded blinking her tears as she waved her hand over Hermione's hair. It was down just past her bottom and curled beautifully, thicker than it had ever been but surprisingly weightless. The elf was sniffling as she seemed to touch every curl to make sure it shinned.

"Young master had them put in for you. He said they were your favorite."

Hermione felt a small shiver of happiness break through her nerves. "Yes, they are my favorite."

Niffy waved her hand again and Hermione gasped as her hair seemed to glimmer with thousands of diamonds and she realized with another gasp that there were indeed diamond pins all throughout her hair.

She hadn't objected when Niffy had made her hair longer, realizing that arguing with the elf was pointless. Now Niffy waved at her robes and they shimmered as if set afire by diamonds as well.

She turned as the door opened and looked at Molly Weasley who gave a soft gasp as she set eyes on her. "Oh you look like a water Nymph," Molly said softly.

Niffy smiled as if that was the greatest praise and bent down to apply some kind of cream to Hermione's feet. Instantly her feet warmed and all the tenderness from dancing in her shoes and standing in her heels for the wedding disappeared.

"Niffy! Thank you!" Hermione said gratefully.

The elf nodded and then took Hermione's hand taking off her rings. "I go now, you come down."

Hermione watched the elf disapparate and then turned to look at Molly Weasley who was smiling at her with tears in her eyes. "You look so beautiful, dear," Molly said gently.

Hermione smiled and then felt her heart start to triple its beat in her chest. "Did they tell you? The ceremony isn't going to be so private?" Hermione asked her tone a bit sad but her face resolved to her fate.

Molly nodded her face going a bit hard. "I told Kingsley it was awful but he pointed out there was little he could do to stop it. Your binding is the first one to take place on the continent in one hundred and sixty seven years and that one didn't even work."

Hermione gave a small nod and then took a deep breath her hand settling over her now jumpy stomach.

Molly let out a long sigh. "Deep breaths, you can do this."

Hermione nodded and allowed Molly to pull her out of the room. Niffy was waiting for them outside the door with a wide smile and took both of their hands apparating them to the ceremony room that was in a basement under the church.

Hermione looked around stunned by what she was seeing. The room was covered in enchanted flowers that glowed like diamonds. Blue will-o'- the wisps hovered over their heads and the room was dark so that although she could hear the shuffling of dozens of people she couldn't actually see them. An altar was set up and an old wizard, she had never seen before, was in ink black robes obviously waiting for her.

She turned and found Draco standing next to her in robes that matched hers, his feet bare as well.

His eyes looked her over and went dark. "Your hair?" He asked softly.

Hermione nodded. "Niffy went a little overboard."

He seemed to have to swallow a few times before he nodded and then held up his hand opening it slowly. A large diamond heart on a delicate gold chain dangled in front of her and she looked at it and then at him.

His smile was soft "It's charmed," he said softly. "It is supposed to protect you and bring you luck."

She smiled and touched the diamond heart; it was warm instead of cold.

"May I put it on you?"

She looked up at him and then nodded slowly. He softly turned her and moved her hair carefully over one shoulder. She felt the heart settle in between her breasts and then he turned her around.

"I didn't get you anything." She said softly flushing. "I didn't-"

He put his finger to her lips and they tingled. "You did, actually. You came. After all the awful things I have done to you, the things I said…" he took a deep breath and said softly. "You still came."

Hermione nodded and felt herself swell with emotion. "We were kids, Draco," she said softly.

He smiled at her and she saw the smile duplicated in his eyes which seemed to swirl silver. "Shall we, Hermione?"

She put her hand on his extended arm and he turned them so that they could walk to the altar.

The room seemed to swell as if the will-o'- the wisps sensed the magic that was about to take place. She glanced up at them feeling a bit dizzy. The wizard smiled at them and then started chanting in Latin and what sounded like old French.

Hermione tried to concentrate on what he was saying. She heard disjointed words. Wind, Earth, Fire, Water. Forever. Bound. Time. Eventually she just let the words wash over her.

They drank from a goblet. Draco first and then her.

Their hands were bound together with a delicate silver rope that was warm and made her hand and arm tingle.

She watched as their rings were dropped into a ball of fire that had burst onto the altar and then disappeared with a strong cooling wind.

And then she gave a small cough of shock as the man blew dirt into their faces. Although the particles seemed to be enchanted for they glowed and then disappeared and she was just left with the sweet smell of the gardenias in her hair.

Her heart seemed to burn between her breasts as the man continued to chant and she went a bit dizzy, gripping Draco's hand as they seemed to suddenly be trapped in a wind tunnel.

Just as quickly as that appeared it vanished and she watched stunned as a large wave formed around them and then also vanished leaving a stone hovering in front of them with their rings on top of it.

Draco took her two rings off of it and placed them on her finger. She gasped as a shock moved through her. The rings glowed as if on fire but didn't burn her and the old wizard performing the ceremony nodded.

Hermione took Draco's ring and slowly placed it on his hand. His eyes widened as if his hand burned as well and his ring glowed.

She looked up into his eyes and he gave her a small smile, as if saying he was just as clueless as she was to this ancient magic.

Suddenly they were surrounded in a tunnel of earth and pushed together until their bodies where flush. She was lifted until her lips were at his level and then he was kissing her and she felt as if the room suddenly exploded in color. She was burning for a second, even though it wasn't painful it still felt odd, and her arms wrapped around him as he continued to kiss her, his tongue taking ownership of her mouth.

Just as she was getting lost in the sensation and after she had realized rather abruptly that this was their first kiss there was a startled gasp and her eyes flew open.

They were surrounded by fire!

Draco leaned back watching the magic with interest.

Hermione gasped as the flames danced around them. "It's amazing," She said softly.

Draco looked at her and smiled before he gently lowered her to the floor. But when she tried to step back his arm tightened and he shook his head briefly.

When the flames disappeared the man was standing with their two wands lying on the altar and holding a small dagger in his left hand.

"Your left hands, if you please." The wizard said in a rather booming voice.

Hermione felt Draco grasp her left hand and hold it up cradled in his own. His eyes were narrowed at the wizard who had his wand in his other hand. She watched wide eyed as the man made a slice in her left palm. It didn't hurt but it was shocking to watch her blood pool at the site of the cut. She watched as Draco shifted his hand so that he was still holding hers but the man could cut his own. Then the wizard waved his wand and their hands joined, fingers linked and she watched as their combined blood dripped onto their wands, it sizzled and then disappeared into them. He was chanting again, and she could feel the spell move through her.

She felt her entire body sway as a loud humming swept through the entire room and the will-o'- the wisps burned as bright as the sun for a moment. She caught a brief glimpse of many wizards standing around looking shocked and then she collapsed into Draco's arms. He stumbled a bit himself and then before she could blink they were gone and landing on a soft bed in a candle lit room.

OoOoOOooOoO

Draco watched the man feeling a bit wild as the wizard sliced open Hermione's palm and then, careful not to lose his grip on her's he allowed the man to slice his own. A sharp feeling of relief washed through him when he realized it had not hurt. Then their hands were clutched together and he watched as their combined blood dripped onto their wands. Suddenly the room was alight for a moment and he felt the strongest magic he had ever felt before in his life rush over him and then suddenly it was gone and his knees went weak.

He barely caught Hermione without stumbling before he felt everything shift into nothingness.

Then in an instant they were on a bed in a room full of hovering candles.

Draco looked around and then down at Hermione his face tight with worry. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing rather rapidly. "Are you okay?" He asked softly.

She gave a small nod and then said. "All the diamond pens in my hair! How do we get them out?"

Draco grunted and then gave a soft laugh. "I have no idea. We can't use magic for four days you and I. We don't leave the room."

She nodded and buried her face in his chest still breathing deeply. He untangled their hands to see that the cuts had healed and the blood was gone. Slowly he took off her crown of flowers and set it on the bedside table.

"Niffy," He said in a soft voice.

There was a pop and the elf looked at him curiously.

Draco gestured at Hermione's hair full of diamonds and the elf suddenly widened her eyes in understanding.

"But leave her hair that long." Draco said in a whisper.

The elf gave him a knowing smirk and then snapped her fingers. The diamonds vanished and then the elf was gone with another soft pop.

Hermione was still breathing deeply into his chest and Draco shifted a little, careful of her small body and all her hair that fanned out around them.

She gave a small tired grin. "Why did you have her leave my hair like this?"

Draco grunted as he ran his hands through the thick mass of curls, it was soft and his hands moved through it easily. "I have a fantasy about shagging a nymph." He said softly.

He was worried he might have offended her because she was so quiet but after a moment he felt her shaking in silent laughter.

He grinned and she shifted so that she could look at him. "I still feel a bit dizzy."

Draco nodded. "Yeah, quiet a trip wasn't it?"

"It was amazing; I have never felt magic like that before."

Draco grunted and swept his gaze over her face, it seemed to be glowing a bit and her eyes were bright. He wondered if he looked the same.

"Either have I." He said slowly. "And I thought the ceremony when I got the dark mark was pretty crazy magic, but it doesn't even compare." He flinched as he realized what he had said and glanced down at her quickly. Her eyes were closed again and there was a soft smile on her face.

Draco continued to play with her hair but frowned as he felt a buzzing seeming to take hold of his middle, it seemed to light fire and he gasped. Lust rushed through him and left him a bit out of breath. When he glanced down he could see it reflected in her eyes the very second his ring burned and he felt another burst of lust rush through him.

Her eyes were wide and she let out small panting breaths. "Draco, what's happening?"

"The claiming part of the binding," he said softly his eyes rushing over her. "It just gets stronger until we seal ourselves together."

She flushed and then frowned. "I don't know what to do," she said helplessly.

Draco felt a chuckle rip out of his burning chest. "I do. Oh, I do."

Notes:
Oh, I just bet he does know what to do! Draco, you sexy thing you!

I hope you enjoyed the bonding. Let me know in the reviews!

Up next:
Well, they should have a wedding night, right?