Draco was mortified. Any fond feelings he had been developing towards Kreacher had definitely been smothered. He had searched high and low for the letters he had written yesterday and when he had failed to find them he'd caved in and asked the elf.
Kreacher had taken them, all of them, to Harry without his consent. Even the crumpled ones. When Kreacher had produced Harry's response with a sly grin on his face, Draco had snatched it away.
Now he sat alone in his room, letter shaking in his hand. It was all very well that Draco had written a letter in the first place but he hadn't really intended for it to be read. He wouldn't have worn his heart on his sleeve if he had.
Curiosity got the better of him; he needed to know what Harry had made of it, for bad or for good.
It wasn't as bad as he'd anticipated. In fact it was rather sweet. Draco felt a sudden pang of loneliness; it felt like Harry was even further away than before. The letter only raised a whole new set of questions as well.
It was concerning to say the least that Bellatrix had made it into the grounds. A year ago Draco would have said it wasn't possible – after all he had spent the better part of the year trying to find a way past all the protections Dumbledore had put it place. Now however he had to admit he'd probably overlooked simple things like walking in by assuming Dumbledore had it covered. It probably wasn't quite as easy as that.
He was tempted to try it out for himself just so he could see Harry before the sensible part of his brain kicked in. They had risked so much to get him here safe; he couldn't waste that on a whim to see his… Merlin only knows what Harry was to him, more than a friend, much more than that. But he wasn't his boyfriend either, that was a boundary they hadn't crossed. His saviour sounded too cheesy, but that was the closest he could get. Harry had saved him from a lot of things, more than he probably realised.
Draco just had to trust that Harry would keep his promise. Harry was yet to fail him.
.
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The Dark Lord was most pleased. This development was something he had not anticipated, but it was working to his full advantage. Two versions of himself. Not just some fragment of his soul locked away, where it was safe if not wholly useful. No, Bellatrix being the vessel for a part of his soul had opened up so many more opportunities.
She was the perfect candidate really, her ruthlessness, her devotion to the cause. She was cunning and clever, a lot like himself in that respect. Maybe that was why he had such complete and utter control over her, as if she were merely an extension of him. Think with his brain and enact with her body.
What's more, the wards of Hogwarts recognised her as belonging there, after she had managed to trick her way past the wards with Draco's cabinet. He had a free ticket in and out of the castle and short of bringing all the wards down and renewing them there was nothing Dumbledore could do.
He supposed he would have to thank Draco for that one day. After all, it was his fiend fire which had released his soul in the first place, enabling it to latch on to Bella. Maybe he would show him some mercy, kill him over the course of a week instead of a month. Or, as the Dark Lord is indeed merciful, he could offer Draco his old place back among his ranks. He would have to kill Narcissa first of course, just to prove his loyalty.
Voldemort laughed. Yes, he liked the idea of making Draco finish his mother. He doubted he could really do it; the traitor was too much of a coward. Who would he choose, he wondered, if he forced Draco to choose between Harry and his mother? That would be fun.
The door swung open without being knocked. Voldemort looked up, prepared to curse the deatheater who dared to show so little manners, and saw Bellatrix striding confidently towards him. He relaxed a little, Bella was him after all, and he did not knock for anyone.
"I have tracked down the foreign bastard who helped our little dragon escape." She said without preamble. Voldemort allowed himself a rare smile.
"Good, bring him in. Take Greyback with you, he's been getting restless. I don't intend to let Krum live long enough for a bite to be an issue, and it should subdue any resistance attempts."
"Of course." She inclined her head slightly before turning to leave, black dress billowing behind her. Voldemort had to admit, she really was a remarkable woman.
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After Harry had confessed to Hermione that he'd seen Draco in Grimmauld Place as Snape dredged through his memories, she did what she always did when faced with a problem. She went to the library.
Her first assumption was that Harry had simply dreamed it then remembered the dream. Harry said he didn't think so, then mumbled something about dreams with Draco didn't normally go like that. She wondered next if Harry had managed some sort of accidental legilimency because he'd been so busy worrying about Draco all the time.
This seemed more and more unlikely from what Hermione had read and she was about to discard the theory until a short paragraph caught her eye.
It has been known, upon rare occasion, for two soul –mated individuals to glimpse moments of the other's life, oft before even meeting. The principle of soulmating is little understood however, so this rare event is often overlooked.
It was a possibility, she supposed. Unlikely though. From what she knew of soulmates in the muggle world, people were supposed to just know that sort of thing. They hit off right from the start and live wonderful, passionate, loving lives together. That certainly didn't sound like the Harry and Draco she had known for years.
She checked her watch. There was still about an hour until the library closed. She could admit defeat and go back up to the common room, tell Harry she hadn't been able to find anything, and call it a night. Or… well it was a hypothesis, a potential solution to her conundrum however unlikely. Hermione sighed. She just couldn't leave a problem half solved.
Hermione got up and stretched her legs. She flicked her wand at the stack of books she'd been looking through and they all floated off back to their relevant shelves. Then she set off in search of more books.
Over the years, Hermione had become quite reluctant to ask the nosy librarian where to find anything and so had developed a few tricks of her own. "Point me Soulmates." She whispered to her wand. It vibrated then spun in her hand and she smiled. Following her wand, she set off though the vast library.
In a dusty corner near the old magic books she found what she was looking for. Pulling off the books which looked most promising, Hermione settled herself on the floor.
The first she quickly tossed aside – Soulmate Seekers – as it seemed to be a load of divination crap. The next was a little better until she realised the book was trying to disprove the theory of soulmates. After that she tried a larger tome about magical mating, flicking though until she found the chapter.
It said a marriage mating could be annulled by the soulmate bond, providing it was sufficiently proved. It didn't really offer any advice on how that could be proved however, much to Hermione's annoyance. She defiantly hated research sometimes. There wasn't a lot of time let until the library shut, and she didn't want to leave answerless.
Turning back to the shelf for more books she noticed a thin pamphlet like book which had fallen loose. She pulled it out. It felt old, and it was handwritten. Carefully, she opened it.
Two souls, inexplicably entwined, has been a phenomenon recorded repeatedly throughout the course of magical history. It causes a deep obsession, often infatuation, in the barer of the matching soul.
The two beings complement each other. They bring out the best traits, and see though all of the flaws. There will be a need to help the other at all costs. It is not always a smooth journey, history is testament to the passionate and explosive nature of some bonds.
However, on some occasions the inverse occurs. Seeing all of ones desired traits in another can lead to animosity between soulmates. Existing as two souls entwined can lead to a hatred so strong that they will literally tear the other apart in order to try and free their soul fragment.
Hermione continued to skim though, looking for something similar to what Harry had described. The more she read, the more things seemed to fit into place. It seemed impossible, and yet… She had never seen Harry as happy and whole as he was with Draco. Harry had helped Draco defy the Dark Lord. They had fought for years, always unable to leave the other alone. When Draco was hurt, Harry was the one to find him first.
Some soulmates have reported the ability to know when the other is in harm's way, or to feel their pain. Words are often not needed in order to communicate. In a true soulmate bonding, both partners are equals.
For years the origins of soulmates has been speculated. The preferred theory is that when we go past death and into the abyss beyond some souls go though so closely that they are muddled. Fragments of one soul are exchanged with fragments of the other. The result is two seemingly whole souls which seek their origin drawing them together. When the souls re-join the mortal plane, they unconsciously search for the rest of themselves.
As magical cores are linked to the soul, some magic must therefore be switched over. In this respect, meeting a soulmate does not only complete the soul but enable a witch or wizards' magical ability to be fully recognised.
The shards of the soul are bought together and for better or for worse, the outcome will be extraordinary.
Hermione slipped the little book into her robes and quickly put the rest of the books away. She needed to get out of the library and have time to read it all properly. Somehow however, she knew nothing she would read in it would disprove her theory now. Harry's magic was testament to that – with Draco gone it was getting more and more out of control.
This revelation could change everything.
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Krum couldn't believe it. He was supposed to be safe here, on the internationally protective grounds of the Swedish Quidditch pitch. He hurtled round the corner, barely missing the curse which collided with the wall behind him. Definitely not safe.
He needed to get beyond the boundaries of the grounds so he could disapperate, or at least lose them in the rabbit warren of tunnels which ran below it. He was fit, he was an international quidditch player for merlin's sake, he could outrun a couple of Deatheaters. Another burst of fire as he skidded around yet another bend. The last time he was being fired at couldn't help but spring to his mind.
The Deatheaters didn't seem to be gaining on him, but he wasn't losing them either. His lungs were starting to burn. He took turn after turn, trying not to stay in firing range long enough to get hit.
There was manic laughter echoing down the hallways behind him, which he tried desperately to tune out. This corridor looked almost familiar, but Viktor was too lost by now to know where he really was below the pitch. It was going to be difficult to find a way out.
He rounded the next corner with a lurch and collided head on with someone. Relief flooded his system until he looked up and felt his blood freeze in his veins.
The man before him was tall and stringy, with matted brown hair falling past his shoulders. He smiled down at Krum showing two rows of pointed yellow teeth. But by far the worst part of his appearance was the horrible burn covering the left half of his face. The skin was shinny stretched taut.
On instinct, Krum lashed out landing a knee right in the man's groin. As the foul man doubled over, Krum darted to the left and ran down the corridor. The laughter had stopped and he heard Bellatrix screeching from behind him.
"Catch him you filthy beast, catch him!" Krum didn't dare look back to see if the man was back on his feet. He just ran, fuelled on adrenaline.
This man didn't stop to fire curses at him every time he was in range, instead he kept running, kept coming. It sounded like he was gaining.
Krum felt sick with fear. He couldn't stop, no matter what.
Definitely gaining. The heavy footfalls sounded closer and closer. He was almost right on top of him. Deciding that his chances were better if he turned and fought, Krum span round the next corner and stopped. This time it was the big man who barrelled into him. It was too quick for Viktor to try and duck out of the way, instead they fell to the floor together. They were a flailing mass of limb each trying hard to land a punch.
Shit. Bellatrix had caught up with them. He could hear her gleeful laughter.
His punch collided with the man's jaw. He tried to wriggle out while he was stunned and was almost up when the man reached for him. He scratched across Krum's cheek and down his neck. Viktor cried out in pain, the cuts felt deep.
"Stupefy." Bellatrix said almost lazily. Krum fell unconscious to the floor.
AN; Exciting things are about to happen! I would really like to know what you all thought of this chapter, as it should start explaining some of the little bits throughout the earlier chapters.
As promised, there has been lots more of Hermione and Krum, and reunions are not far off!
Fe x