AN: Special thanks to asouldreams, tanith and marble for their wonderful support and to all of you who've been such wonderful cheerleaders during my recent fight against breast cancer. Thanks so much! You would've laughed your arses off at seeing this old fat woman rumbling across the finish line, but I did it! I had so much pink on, I looked like an army tank that had been hosed down with pepto bismol!

Anyway.... here ya go.

THE TIES THAT BIND

Chapter 20

REVELATIONS

Ron Weasley stepped off the last grey stone leading from the kitchens of McGonagall Manor and into a veritable wonderland of growing things. Shrubs, bushes, flowers, herbs, vegetable plants... you name it, it was there.

Gazing around, his blue eyes sparkled, "Blimey! Neville would love this!" His keen glance fell on a tiny elf busily pinching basil leaves for the pesto that Livvy was making. Remembering Hermione's speech about respect for all creatures, the young man approached the elf and dropped to one knee.

"Excuse me. Have you seen Dawn Granger by any chance?"

Igon, the garden elf smiled at the tall red haired wizard. Batting his dark eyelashes, he replied, "Sister-Miss comes out a little bit ago. She has the sadness." He pointed down the path that led to the large gazebo. "She goes there sir."

Ron started walking away from the smiling elf, when he heard, "Just follows the yellow bricks road!"

Looking down, he noticed that the path was indeed paved with a golden stone. He shot a wicked grin back to the elf. The tiny creature gave him a "royal" wave in return, then pranced back into the kitchens.

Snickering to himself, he continued down the path.

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Harry and Ginny burst into their guest room. Hermione told them that everyone knew they were having sex anyway so they might as well save themselves some sneaking around effort and just share a room. Molly had a bit of a fuss, but even she realized the futility of trying to keep the lovers apart.

"Merlin Gin! I'm burning up!" Harry muttered pulling at his clothes as his glasses went flying.

The young red haired witch grinned, "Gotta love bonding magic! I am so bloody randy!" She pulled her dress off, standing before her boyfriend in her lacy white knickers and bra.

Harry didn't think it was possible to get any harder, but seeing Ginny so wound up made him feel like he had an elephant trunk in his trousers!

"Come 'ere you sexy beast!" Ginny murmured seductively, pulling her man into a searing, tonsil exploring kiss.

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Dawn Granger gazed absently out at the verdent, lush beauty that was McGonagall Manor. Her thoughts focused on the magical wave that washed over her earlier. It was powerful. Causing every creature in the manor to react.

'Hermione and Minerva's mating magic was wicked!' She thought, as a small smirk chased the sorrowful expression away from her pretty face.

"Now there's the smile that I love so much."

The voice of the man that she was falling in love with fell upon her ears like a soothing balm.

She turned to see Ron standing at the entrance of the gazebo, his hands thrust into his pockets, a hopeful expression on his honest face.

"Can I come in?" He asked tenatively. There was a loving, yet sad cast in his eyes.

The young woman nodded and waved her hand at the empty green adirondack chair next to her. She watched as the tall young man moved to the chair and sat down with a sigh.

"Right comfy these chairs."

Dawn nodded and turned her gaze back out to the distant forest.

Ron wanted to comfort the young woman. She had come to mean so much to him. He reached out and touched her hand, "Want to talk about it?"

Dawn's mocha eyes filled with tears. It was time to tell him. She had to. Running a trembling hand through her short, light brown hair, she replied, "I suppose you have a right to know... though I'm not sure how you're gonna react to what I have to say."

Clear blue eyes, locked onto mocha with a look of compassion, "Just say what you need to say. Alright?" He leaned forward in his chair a bit. He knew what she wanted to talk about with a fair amount of certainty. He'd overheard some heart breaking revelations about the young woman when they were at Sanduvall Island. It had given him a lot to think about since then.

A single tear rolled down Dawn's pretty face as she began, "When I was fifteen, I fell in love with a boy named Billy who I thought loved me just as much...."

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Minerva and Hermione lay together perfectly still. Minerva was once again embedded in Hermione's tight heat. The older witch gazed down into the chocolate eyes of the woman she loved with everything that was in her. Tender emerald connected with the chocolate in a sweet moment where words seemed no longer necessary for them.

A long moment later, she leaned down and pulled the plump lips of her new bride into a deep, loving kiss feeling her wife's small hands caressing her back.

"I love you my kitten."

"I love you sweet tabby."

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Ron reached out and gently brushed away Dawn's tears, "What happened next love?" He kept his voice soft and calm even though his insides were roiling at what she'd said to him so far. He wanted to find this young man and crucio him!

Dawn shuddered, "I woke up in a strange bed... alone. I was bloody and it hurt soooo much." Her thin body shook as powerful sobs started a new.

The young Weasley carefully reached over and picked the feather light young woman up. He gently pulled Dawn into his lap, wrapping the young woman in a powerful, protective embrace. Quietly rocking her body as she wept. He felt like his heart was going to snap in half as he blinked back sorrowful tears.

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Jean Granger gazed hotly into the yellow eyes of her lover, "This is some powerful stuff!"

Rolanda Hooch pulled the muggle woman to straddle her hips, "Mmmm hmmmm." She ran her strong hands up the soft skin of Jean's back, grinning at the shudder her lover couldn't help but make.

"God I love magic!"

Hooch's smile turned slightly wicked as she cast the engorgio charm on herself, "You love magic? Then you're going to love this."

Jean Granger's mouth fell open in divine bliss as her lover penetrated her witch-on-witch style, "Oh God! Is this what Hermione is getting?"

Rolanda thrust her hips, holding Jean in place, "Oh yes she is."

Mocha eyes rolled back in her head as Jean began thrusting back, "Lucky girl, my daughter."

The women soon found their rhythm and discovered another level of intimacy. One that connected them even deeper. Not just physically, but emotionally as well.

Rolanda Hooch felt her head sink deeper into the pillows as her back arched in response to the amazing pleasure she felt, "Oh Jean... I love you! I love you! I love you!" Her next words were incomprehensible as a powerful orgasm hurled her body into oblivion.

Hermione's mother let out a loud, keening wail as she responded to her lover's cry. Her body coiled in upon itself and then burst outward. She felt her womanhood flood with her essence, mingling with Ro's, as wave after wave of sexual pleasure flooded her being.

Spent, she collapsed upon Rolanda. Feeling secure and protected in the loving arms that held her close, "I love you too." She breathlessly whispered into her lover's ear.

Rolanda's response was a soft kiss to Jean's temple and tightening her arms even more.

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"I had bite marks on my thighs, on my tummy and on my boobies." Dawn whispered tearfully. She felt Ron's embrace tighten momentarily.

Listening to his love pour out her heart to him caused his own to ache even more, "I love you Dawn Granger. Nothing can change the way I feel about you."

The young woman pulled back a bit to look into his deep blue eyes. What she saw shining in those sparkling depths was truth, sincerity, compassion and yes, deep, deep love. "You aren't disappointed that I'm not a virgin?"

Ron gently cupped a dainty chin in his large hand, "Now you listen to me... I love you, not your virginity or the lack there of."

Dawn frowned a bit, "But I thought it was important to a wizard..." She didn't finish as she saw his expression.

"It doesn't matter to me Luv, the way I see it... when we finally decide to...um you know..." He blushed hotly.

A smile lit up the young woman's face at seeing her tall wizard embarrassed. She finished the sentence for him, "When we finally make love."

He nodded, his cheeks still rosy, "Yes..uh..when we finally make love, it will be because we are ready and it's the right time." He gently caressed her soft cheek, "I love you so much."

Dawn leaned into his touch, "I love you too Ron Weasley. I know that you would never hurt me like that."

He shook his head, eyes darkening slightly at the thought of what he'd like to do to Billy, "No I would never hurt you... ever!"

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Molly snuggled into the loving arms of her husband. Panting slightly, she grinned and her twinkly blue eyes crinkled merrily, "You have to love bonding magic." She caressed the dark red hairs growing on her husband's chest.

Arthur placed a sweet kiss on the top of his wife's head and replied, "Or the um... side effects."

Both husband and wife laughed heartily. Overjoyed that their passion still burned as hotly now as it did all those years ago. Delighted that their dear friend, Minerva McGonagall had finally found her mate in the amazing Hermione Granger. And finally content at the loving wave of peacefulness that had settled thoughout the venerable McGonagall Manor.

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Doodleberry the house elf stared at the glow eminating from under the door of the broom cupboard. He could hear high pitched squeaks, squeals and giggles. As he reached for the handle to open the door he felt a cuff to the back of his head, "Don't you's dare!"

The young elf turned meekly to face his uncle Igon, "What is thats?"

Igon shook his head, his large ears flapping slightly, "You's mum and dad... now leaves them be." He turned back towards the door to the garden, "Come, you's helps me."

The young elf trotted after his uncle wondering just what was going on with his parents?

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Dawn and Ron slowly made their way back towards the manor house. Arm in arm they simply reveled in the new found closeness that their conversation had brought to them. Everything their eyes fell upon seemed to be bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. It seemed a fitting way to end an amazing day.

The red haired wizard's stomach chose that moment to rumble causing Dawn to giggle, "You are such a bottomless pit! Come on, lets feed it before it gets disagreeable."

Ron laughed and hugged his girlfriend tight. Up ahead, he saw two elves working at some herbs. The larger one he recognized as the garden elf, the smaller one he was unfamiliar with.

As the couple neared, the tall wizard knelt down on one knee and addressed the elves, "Do you think we might get a bite to eat?"

The little elf perked up, "Oh yes sirs! Just follows Doodleberry... I's takes care of it!" The little elf promptly popped out of sight. Igon smiled and said, "Goes to the family's room. The others, theys be there."

Nodding, the red haired man took the young woman's hand and led her back into the Manor.

The kitchens were busy as several rather bedraggled looking elves busily prepared all sorts of food. Curious, Ron raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's going on?"

Livvy, the head kitchen elf, walked up to him. Her normally pressed tartan dress was wrinkled and the buttons mis-matched, "We's be makings some snacks. The in-outie makes witches and wizards right hungry it does!"

Ron looked at Dawn, "In-outie?"

The young woman shrugged, "Dunno..."

Shrugging, he led Dawn out of the kitchens and up the back hall into the onyx tiled entry hall.

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught Dawn's attention. It was the portrait of Fiona and Edeen McGonagall... or rather it was supposed to be. Instead it appeared to be empty of the two women and showed Keegan McGonagall picking up what appeared to be clothing. Dawn giggled when she heard him muttering, "Bloody damnedable bonding magic!"

Ron grinned as he led his girlfriend into the family room to find...

Harry Potter wearing nothing but his boxers sitting on the sofa with Ginny. The youngest Weasley was wearing Harry's dress shirt. Both of them appeared slightly... drunk?

Lounging in a recliner was Dumbledore wearing a look of utter decadent satisfaction.

Curled up on the love seat was Minerva with Hermione in her arms. Both witches sporting the worst bed hair he had ever seen. Hermione looked like she'd stuck her finger in an electric socket and Minerva's hair was standing straight up in places. Both witches were wearing robes that had been rather sloppily tied as Hermione's abundant cleavage was spilling out.

Sitting on the hearth of the large stone fireplace were Molly and Arthur wearing bemused expressions as they looked at everyone else.

Entering the room, Ron and Dawn grinned. Ron saying, "Well I guess you all had a right good time then?"

Before anyone could answer, Jean and Rolanda strolled in. Jean walked to her daughter and asked, "Are you ok?" Her dark eyes reflecting a mother's love and concern.

Rolanda pulled the young woman into a caring hug and asked, "Alright then Butterfly?"

The young woman nodded with a smile that chased away all the shadows that used to linger in her mocha eyes, "I'm fine. Ron and I had a good long talk."

Jean had tears in her eyes as she placed a sweet kiss on the tall wizard's cheek.

The whole room chuckled at the blush that reddened his face.

Suddenly a massive mound of food appeared on the table between the furniture and was attacked en masse.

Harry and Ginny were stuffing themselves on honey buns with jam while Arthur and Molly focused on hearty ham and cheese sandwiches. Minerva was wolfing ginger newts like mad.

Hermione elbowed her wife, "No wonder you taste like ginger newts!"

Minerva choked on her biscuit as the room erupted in guffaws.

Sputtering, the Headmistress swallowed and glared at her wife, "That's private... they don't need to know that." Her voice was toned in an exasperated whisper.

Hermione grinned and replied, "Take a look around... you know and they know exactly what everyone's been doing for the last little while. So private went right out the cauldron."

Minerva McGonagall gazed at the faces around the room and replied ruefully, "Aye... I suppose you're right."

Hermione pulled her wife into a loving embrace, "That, my love, is what being part of a family like this is all about."

Minerva raised an eyebrow, "Quite an interesting revelation." She opened her mouth and accepted the ginger newt her loving wife offered.

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-to be continued

AN: Thanks y'all... hope you like it. Sort of wrapping up the wedding and starting the next segment.